Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Years 5 and 6. Sunnyhills School

Transcription

1 Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Years 5 and 6 Sunnyhills School Please note that BYOD is NOT a compulsory venture. This information is designed to inform you on things to consider if you choose to. Note there are some class devices available for use in each class.

2 Table of Contents Advantages of Student Owned Devices... Page 3 Research Citing the Potential Benefits of e-learning... 3 E-learning in the New Zealand Curriculum... 3 Considerations Before Purchasing a Device... 4 Common Learning Platforms at Sunnyhills... 5 Device Options... 5 Recommended Apps/Software to Download... 9 Technical Support Safety Guidelines and Responsibilities Cyber Safety/Digital Citizenship Ergonomics V1 December 2014 Page 2

3 Advantages of Student Owned Devices Anytime, anywhere access to learning The ability to develop digital folders and work for their classes (that can t be lost, and never need replacing) through Google Apps for Education Anytime, anywhere access to the public library e-books, database and catalogued web resources Anytime, anywhere access to unlimited resources and information on the internet The ability to draft, redraft and publish their work at the click of a button Allowing students to become active partners in their learning Research Citing the Potential Benefits of e-learning Noeline Wright s (University of Waikato) 2009 literature review looking at e-learning and implications for New Zealand schools highlights the following benefits of e-learning afforded by access to internet capable devices: Improved motivation and engagement Greater independence and personalised learning Improved critical thinking and development of multi literacies Greater opportunities for collaboration in wide contexts, including international ones Greater access to information, resources and experts E-learning in the New Zealand Curriculum Our children are entering a world that is looking for abilities far different from the traditional. We want children to be able to collect, synthesise and analyse information and then work collaboratively with others to apply that knowledge. They need to learn how to learn and to respond to the constantly changing technologies and social and global changes in the world. The New Zealand Curriculum pg 38 states that e-learning may: assist the making of connections by enabling students to enter and explore new learning environments, overcoming barriers of distance and time facilitate shared learning by enabling students to join or create communities of learners that extend well beyond the classroom assist in the creation of supportive learning environments by offering resources that take account of individual, cultural, or developmental differences enhance opportunities to learn by offering students virtual experiences and tools that save them time, allowing them to take their learning further schools should explore not only how ICT can supplement traditional ways of teaching but also how it can open up new and different ways of learning V1 December 2014 Page 3

4 Considerations Before Purchasing a Device Price: Purpose: Longevity: Weight: Battery life: Screen Size: Wireless: How much do you want to spend? What is your budget? What is the device going to predominantly be used for? How long do you plan to use the device? Are you looking at a short or long term solution? Is it heavy? Will your child be carrying this to and from school every day? Should last 5-6 hours to be able to get through a school day without recharging (no charging of devices is permitted at school). Minimum 7 inches. Should state that it has b/g/n, or a/b/g/n. Warranty: Minimum warranty is 1 year, but you may want to consider upgrading this to a 2 or 3- year warranty. Technical support: Internet Browser: RAM: Protection: Insurance: Anti-virus Software: Extra Peripherals: Touch screen: Intermediate schools: Should your device require repair or maintenance - how long will the device be away for and what is covered under warranty? Is there a loan device available? The Google Chrome browser is necessary for our systems. Make sure the device can run this. Minimum 2GB, but would recommend 4GB or more for Netbooks/Laptops, otherwise programmes may run slower. Does the device have suitable casing to protect it from the elements? Is it named appropriately? Ultimately it is the responsibility of the owner (family) to insure the device from loss or damage. We recommend you check if you are covered under your existing household insurance policy. For Windows or Mac OSX devices anti-virus and anti-spyware software is essential to protect the data on the device, and prevent the device being used to spread this malware to other devices at home or at school. Headset or ear buds are useful for private listening. Bluetooth keyboards are useful for tablets. Sunnyhills students felt this was a nicety but not a necessity. Can be useful if you have Windows 8.1. Check the BYOD requirements as relevant for Intermediate schools. Bucklands Beach Intermediate: Contact school for a brochure V1 December 2014 Page 4

5 Common Learning Platforms at Sunnyhills Google Apps for Education we use a customized Sunnyhills Google Apps environment for teaching and learning. This provides students with a free Office-type environment available using the Internet, accessible at both school and home. This means that it is not necessary to have software on laptops such as MS Office. In order to utilise technology to support the learning, Sunnyhills School may utilise third party websites and online services, such as Prezi, Animoto etc. for its students. Such services are used to assist with education specific needs both inside and outside of the classroom. Many of these services have education specific versions that enable teacher control/monitoring. The school, when possible and appropriate, will utilise the education specific versions and also restrict the use of the services and access to posted material to the classroom which your student is involved in. The school has invested in a WatchGuard system which tracks all internet activity on your child s device at school. We have Ultrafast Broadband and a good wireless system. Device Options We have successfully implemented BYOD at Sunnyhills for two years, and our survey results from teachers and children show the majority prefer a laptop over a tablet. See our website for actual survey results. The advantage of a laptop is it has a keyboard and works well with Google Apps for Education as well as Flash based websites. Please note that technology is changing at such a fast rate that you will need to explore the options that are currently available. As a general guide only we have provided photos of some of the different devices students have brought in 2014 which they have found worked well in terms of battery life and weight etc. This is not a prescribed list in any way and we would recommend you read the Considerations for Purchasing section to work out what is best for your child. V1 December 2014 Page 5

6 Laptops: From $450+ Students in 2014 brought a wide range of laptops from netbooks, notebooks through to Macbooks. Make sure you check the Considerations for Purchasing options section before buying. These are some of the variations of laptops bought. Note the smaller the screen the lighter the device. Laptop with Tablet (ASUS Transformer) 10.1 inch HP Pavillion Notebook 10 inch Macbook Samsung Series 5 Ultrabook Acer Aspire V5 Acer Aspire E1 (heavier in weight) HP Envy (widescreen) (heavier in weight) Note: The bigger the device, the heavier it will be. Some children with the heavier devices were dropped off at school so it wasn t such an issue regarding having to carry their device far. Recommendations Intel Core is the processor speed. Needs to be no smaller than i5 and faster than 2GHz Minimum screen size 11 inch is recommended. V1 December 2014 Page 6

7 Chromebooks $350 - $500+ A Chromebook is a Google laptop which essentially runs a Chrome operating system. These devices are designed to be used primarily while connected to the internet. Chromebooks are readily available in most computer shops in NZ. You can buy online through sites like Amazon. If buying anything online, remember to check what the support and warranty conditions are like first. Students brought a range of Chromebooks from Acer, Samsung, HP and some were touchscreen. Pros: Don t get viruses Very quick to turn on and access work in Google Apps for Education Cons: Can t load any software such as itunes or Minecraft on it. (this could be a pro too!) Note: When a student leaves Sunnyhills they will need their own personal Google account to continue working on a Chromebook. This needs to be created with parent permission and we would recommend the parent also knows the password to this account. A personal Google account gives a student access to the full range of Google Apps which includes things like Youtube, Blogs etc which have a minimum age of 13 or with parent permission. Tablets (ipads, ipods, Android etc) Using Google Drive on a tablet can have limited functionality dependent on the type of tablet. If you have an ipad or a Samsung Galaxy Tab then downloading the Apps for using Google Apps for Education is essential. See the section on Recommended Apps/Software to Download. Note: The cheaper Surface tablets don t run the Chrome Browser which is required at Sunnyhills. Check before you buy! An ipod Touch is more suitable as a supplementary device, NOT a primary device V1 December 2014 Page 7

8 Android tablets with and without keyboards plus support Android tablet with built in keyboard in cover and support ipad Air/iPad 2 Ipad Mini Pros: Lightweight and fast to turn on. Cons: Tablets generally do not support flash player, which is often used on websites (especially online games). Recommendations Minimum screen size of 7 inches (equivalent of the ipad mini). Bluetooth keyboard recommended together with either a case or support that sits tablet up on desk. Remember to check the Considerations for Purchasing section of this brochure before buying. V1 December 2014 Page 8

9 Recommended Apps/Software to Download Chrome Browser Google Apps for Education works best using the Chrome Browser, NOT Internet Explorer. Therefore any device MUST have the free Chrome Brower downloaded. Tablets For Tablets we would recommend downloading the free versions of Google Apps as follows: ipads: Apps from the Apple store include: Android Devices: Apps from the Google Play store include: V1 December 2014 Page 9

10 Technical Support The school does not provide technical support should something go wrong with your child s device. Safety Guidelines and Responsibilities Security: Devices are held in lockable cupboards within the classroom Devices are not allowed out in break times or before/after school Children are responsible for their own devices. Other schools have found children lose their jumpers but never their device No software downloads or updates will be carried out at school on student devices After school care: Your child will NOT be allowed to use their device at after school care. Your child must tell after school care they have a device in their bag so their bag is kept in a separate area for security Parents Responsibility Insurance for their device (check with your insurance provider) Naming equipment Sending a device that meets minimum requirements Child s Responsibility Charging device at home Responsible for device at school Sharing Your child may be involved in collaborative group work, which could mean, whilst in that group, your child will be in charge of his/her device, and with your child s permission another child could work on the device with your child We want to promote a share the screen environment V1 December 2014 Page 10

11 Cyber Safety/Digital Citizenship: At the beginning of the year routines and class treaties are developed to include online safety and this is reinforced throughout the school year. We focus on developing a digital citizen that: is a confident and capable user of ICT uses technologies to participate in educational, cultural, and economic activities uses and develops critical thinking skills in cyberspace is literate in the language, symbols, and texts of digital technologies is aware of ICT challenges and can manage them effectively uses ICT to relate to others in positive, meaningful ways demonstrates honesty and integrity and ethical behaviour in their use of ICT respects the concepts of privacy and freedom of speech in a digital world contributes and actively promotes the values of digital citizenship Did you know You must be 13+ to have an itunes account. Do not give your child your itunes password! Ergonomics Screen time 20 minutes then a break looking out window for 1-2 minutes Sitting properly with good back and chair support Tablets if needing to do more than 10 minutes worth of typing on screen then a Bluetooth keyboard is recommended Backpacks heavier items should be packed close to the back Don t overfill V1 December 2014 Page 11