BYOD. elearning at Whangaparaoa College

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1 BYOD elearning at Whangaparaoa College

2 Whangaparaoa College - why BYODs? Vision Whangaparaoa College will be a lead school in learning, and in achieving excellence in all fields of learner endeavour. Mission Whangaparaoa College will challenge all learners, through a range of opportunities, to maximise their potential as outstanding individuals and as members of the school and the wider community. Over many years we have been looking into the use of devices to support learning at Whangaparaoa College. This began with a thesis looking into this prior to the college opening (Ballantyne, 2004). We have used a variety of devices to support learning at the college computers, GPS wristwatches, ipads, Smartboards, clickers, etc. During more recent years it has become apparent that there are significant advantages in learners each having their own device. Rather than rushing into this, we have researched types of devices, through an elearning group of staff that meets regularly, and have also trialled three eclasses in Year 8. Learners have had to bring devices for some senior subjects for a number of years (eg Computing, Media Studies), and we have allowed learners to bring their own devices for the past couple of years and negotiate their use with their teachers. The entire school now has excellent WiFi capability. We do not wish to dictate what type of device learners must use, nor do we wish them to use only a device there is still a need for pen and paper at times. However, we believe it is time that they, and we, make good use of the devices available to increase their engagement and achievement. With BYODs, learning is deeper and learners engage in more intellectual, conceptual, analytical and creative thinking (Dixon & Tierney, 2013). Technology has dramatically affected virtually every sector in society that you can think of except education. It is time that gadget goes to school and schools go to gadget. (Fullan, 2013, p72) We are now meeting with parents to share our research and to gauge interest in a pathway forward. Please follow the link below after tonight s presentation and indicate your interest. We look forward to continuing the learning journey with you and your children. Lisa Ballantyne Deputy Principal Please go to this webpage to register your interest and contact details: 2

3 At Whangaparaoa College we currently allow learners to bring devices to school and negotiate with their teacher(s) re their use. There has been positive feedback regarding the use of these devices. Improved engagement, behaviour, and home learning completion have, in particular, been commented upon. Whilst Whangaparaoa College do not promote a specific brand we do however have minimum specifications that must be met for bring your own device. Whangaparaoa College also work closely with specific providers to bring your own devices to get the best deal for you. At Whangaparaoa College we understand that bringing your own device can be a costly expense and you could be apprehensive with your child bringing an expensive device to school, therefore we do supply storage lockers at an annual cost so that you can be sure that devices are kept safe in between class times. These are available through Whangaparaoa College also has a digital citizenship policy that helps your child to understand the importance of social network online and to assist with cyber bullying. Index Minimum specifications... 4 Software reg and Office Frequently asked questions... 5 Suppliers... 7 Deals

4 Minimum Specifications Notebook/laptop Intel i3 2GB DDR MHZ 100GB Disk space 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x RJ b/g/n Windows 7 plus is recommended Android Tablet Powered by Android GB Memory 16GB Storage Wireless b/g/n ipad ipad 2 or later model (no ipad 1 s) 16GB storage All devices require a minimum 4 hours of use from one battery charge + a camera Software Requirements All devices must be Wi-fi compatible and have the following software Word processing Spreadsheet Presentations Internet browser Photos/moviemaking For laptops and some tablets Open Office is a free download office suite with word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, graphics and databases. We are now able to offer all students MS Office 365 free of charge (accessible by web browser) or for $3.70 per month to download the desktop version. 4

5 Frequently asked questions Q: Who is responsible for repairs and maintenance of the device? A: You are responsible for your own repairs and maintenance. The school does not accept any responsibility for damage to devices. Q: Who is responsible for the insurance and warranty? A: You are responsible for both insurance and warranty. We advise you obtain an extended warranty and check what that warranty covers. Some warranties do not cover for accidental damage so you need to check it would be covered under your household insurance. Q: What happens if something goes wrong with the device during school, can you fix it? A: We will supply the learners with a number of information sheets to help them to troubleshoot their problem. Our ICT Technician is unable to look at individual device as this may affect the warranty you have purchased. Q: Can a learner download or store music/films/games on their device? A: If the device is owned by the learner, then technically they can download or store anything they want, subject to copyright law. However, you must be aware that the more data downloaded onto the device will slow it up and affect the performance. Limewire and torrents are the main cause of viruses and malware on devices. We recommend all personal data be kept on an external hard drive/flashdrive. The device is intended as a resource for your learner as a learning tool rather than an entertainment unit for games. Q: Is internet usage monitored? A: Yes, all internet usage, including learners with their own device, is monitored by our web filtering programs. We set quotas for learners. Q: Do I have to have antivirus software? A: Yes this is compulsory. We recommend a free download: Microsoft Security Essentials. ( Q: Will my child still require the same stationery? A: Yes. They will still be doing a fair amount of handwriting and the device will be used as a tool to provide differentiation and choice in the learning. Q: Will the device my child has be good enough? A: Please check the minimum specifications above. 5

6 Q: Will my child be able to print from their device? A: Within the first week or so of school they will be able to print. However, we will not be encouraging the learners to print unless there is a benefit from doing so we would like to avoid unnecessary paper waste. Q: Where will my child save their work? A: It is best for the children to save/upload their work to the cloud. The teacher will give advice on how to do this. Q: Will my child be using their device all day? A: No. They will still be doing a fair amount of handwriting and the device will be used as a tool to provide differentiation and choice in the learning. Q: Will my child be taught to use the device responsibly? A: Yes. There was a new Digital Citizenship curriculum implemented in 2013 for all learners. Q: Have you thought about storage/security of the devices? A: Yes. Lockers are available at Children will be responsible for their own devices. Parents are expected to have their own insurance for the devices. Bounce covers that prevent a device smashing if dropped can be purchased at various retail stores. Q: How much am I expected to pay for apps for my child s device? A: We do not expect anyone to have to pay more than $50 over the year for apps. However, the teachers will be using and recommending the use of free apps wherever possible. 6

7 Suppliers Noel Leeming Suite No7 PB Technologies 4 Station Rd 40 Hibiscus Coast Highway Penrose Silverdale Auckland Phone: Phone: Contact: Laura Cameron Contact: Josh Marvin Check the following websites for competitive pricing for devices. Please note that the prices will fluctuate daily on these websites due to currency changes Check these sites regularly as they often run special offers and can offer good interest free deals. A good website to check price comparisons is Any special offers made to Whangaparaoa College direct will be updated onto our website. 7

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