21 st Century Learning Initiative

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1 21 st Century Learning Initiative BYOD, Device Buying Guide And Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Louis Riel School Division June, 2015

2 21 st Century Learning Initiative Device Buying Guide This document is intended to provide the requirements f bringing your own device (BYOD) purchasing a device f the 21 st Century Learning Initiative in your school. This infmation may be updated from time to time. Please visit your schools web page f the most recent version of this infmation. Students will require either a Laptop tablet, f the program, and the device will need to interact with our netwk environment. Both Windows and Macintosh laptops and tablets are well suited f this initiative. All Windows based laptops and tablets must be running Windows 7 higher (newer). The Louis Riel School Division cannot recommend one manufactures device over another but would be glad to comment on the suitability of a device you are considering purchasing. If you have any further questions about buying a device please studentowned@lrsd.net 1. If Purchasing a New Device Purchasing the device as close as possible to the start of the school year (July-August) will have several advantages; 1. Histically there have been great back to school specials available from computer vends at this time. 2. The device will not have an extra few months of use and drain on its battery life. 2. What to Purchase The most common types of devices in use in the Louis Riel School Division are Windows, followed by Macintosh. Based on our experiences with last year s group of students we offer the following general recommendations; Devices must have a suitable Wi-Fi interface. Buying additional software packages are not required. All Louis Riel School Division students are eligible f the Microsoft Student Advantage program. This program provides Microsoft Office to all students who attend Louis Riel School Division free of charge f up to 5 computers (Mac PC). Used devices that meet the basic requirements will wk providing they have batteries capable of at least 4 hours. Keep in mind the weight and size of the laptop. A 13 laptop on average weighs 1.5kg 3.7 lbs. 15 laptops can weigh as much as 2.5kgs 5.6 lbs higher. 3. Purchasing Suggestions The LRSD is pleased to announce a new purchasing partnership with Powerland ( All families of Dakota Collegiate and College Beliveau are eligible f special financing on "Off-Lease" used laptops. The off-lease laptop netbook may be purchased outright at the price of $ each, taxes included Financing Available: Financing price of an off-lease laptop netbook is $200.00, taxes included. A $50.00 deposit is required at the time on pickup. The remaining $ balance will be financed over the next 6 months ($25.00 payment per month) Powerland Computers also has a wide variety of new laptops and tablets available f purchase F me infmation about our partnership with Powerland please contact your school studentowned@lrsd.net Purchasing a new laptop/tablet can range in price from $ and up. However, a device in the $ to $ range will be sufficient f this program. Below is a purchasing guide to aid you. Note: Chromebooks are not a suppted and should not be considered.

Students will require either a Laptop tablet, f the program, and the device will need to interact with our netwk environment.

3 Device Cost Range What s inside? Pros Cons Laptops Powerland Partnership device $ (fin.) New devices $ CPU Hard Drive Screen Size Battery Life Operating Sys - AMD E1, A4 - Intel Celeron - 2 GB 4 GB GB inch hours - Windows 1. Low cost 2. Refurbished devices are common in this price range 1. Low powered CPU but sufficient f everyday needs 2. Smaller battery 3. Can be heavy (4-6 lbs.) $ CPU - AMD A4-A8 - Intel i3 i5-4 GB 6 GB Hard Drive - 500GB 750GB Screen Size inch Battery Life hours Operating Sys - Windows $ CPU - AMD A8, A10 - Intel i5 i7-6 GB 8 GB Hard Drive - 500GB 1TB Screen Size inch Battery Life hours Operating Sys - Windows $ CPU - Intel i5 i7-8 GB 12 GB Hard Drive - 500GB 1TB Screen Size inch Battery Life hours Operating Sys - Windows OSX Tablets $ CPU - Intel Atom-Celeron - 1-2GB Hard Drive GB Screen Size inch Battery Life hours Operating Sys - Windows 8.1 $ CPU - Intel i3 - i5 i GB Hard Drive GB Screen Size inch Battery Life hours Operating Sys - Windows Low cost 2. Me powerful CPU 3. Large hard drive 4. Might include a touch screen (Not necessary) 1. Powerful CPU 2. Touch screens are me common 3. Large hard drive 4. Touch Screens are common in this price range. (Not necessary) 1. Devices in this price range are offer me power than what is needed f this initiative. 2. Long lasting battery 3. Hybrid devices are available at this price range i.e. Detachable keyboards 1. Long lasting battery 2. Hybrid device 3. Light 1.6 pounds 1. Powerful CPU 2. Long lasting battery 3. Light 2.0 lbs. 4. Hybrid device inch screen are common in this price range which means a heavier device inch screens are common which means a heavier device. 1. Expensive 1. Slower process 2. Can only install programs from the Windows Ste 3. Smaller screen size 1. Smaller screen inches

Refurbished devices are common in this price range 1. Low powered CPU but sufficient f everyday needs 2. Smaller battery 3. Can be heavy (4-6 lbs.

4 4. Devices NOT Compatible with the School Program The following devices will not wk with the school division s internal systems and are not recommended. Several facts including; limited screen size screen resolution, the inability to connect and use LRSD online documents, assignments software are facts with the devices listed here. 1. Chromebooks (Google s cloud based OS) Not Compatible 2. Android Tablets Not fully Compatible 3. E-Readers (e.g. Kindle, Kobo) Not Compatible 4. Android and Blackberry Smart Phones Not Compatible 5. Purchasing Software No additional software will be required beyond the device s operating system and an internet browser which all systems ship with. As stated befe, all LRSD students are eligible to download Microsoft Office f up to 5 personal devices that they have f their school laptop at home. 6. Virus Protection If you purchase a Windows device you may not need to buy an Anti-Virus program. There are a number of free antivirus suites that wk just as well as paid ones. If your laptop is running Windows 7, we recommend you use Microsoft Security Essentials (Free). You can find a link to install the software here US/windows/products/security-essentials. Windows 8 laptops have their own antivirus protection built into the operating system. If you would like you can install an alternate free antivirus tool such as AVG Avast. Your newly purchased laptop may come with 3-6 months of free antivirus which can be used until it expires. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Q: Will the students have open access to the internet? A: No, Louis Riel School Division filters its internet feed blocking around 25 categies of infmation on the Internet. Students that are connected to the school s wireless system use the exact same filters that we have in place f all school owned devices.

Chromebooks (Google s cloud based OS) Not Compatible 2. Android Tablets Not fully Compatible 3. E-Readers (e.g. Kindle, Kobo) Not Compatible 4. Android and Blackberry Smart Phones Not Compatible 5.

5 Q: What if our device gets stolen? A: Theft of personal items can be a concern in a building housing a great many people like a High School. Students need to take responsibility f safeguarding their personal property by not leaving any valuables unattended. The School Division is not responsible f lost stolen personal items but has put in place several measures to help secure student belongings; 1. The school has provided individual student lockers in an area that is monited by security cameras which will increase security while items are sted in these lockers. 2. Louis Riel School Division will also register student devices purchased f the 21 st Century Learning Initiative in the STOP Security Plate program based on parental requests. The Stop Security Plate Program helps to deter the theft of devices, and help to identify lost stolen devices. Parents must notify the school that they wish to be registered. 3. The school has also provided a number of charge lockers where students can securely ste and charge devices overnight if they chose not to take the devices home. Q: Do I need to have access to the internet at home? A: No, internet access at home, although beneficial, is not necessary f students wking in this program. At school the Division will provide free wireless access to the Internet throughout the building. Q: Will the students do all of their wk on their devices? A: We do not expect n do we encourage the use of student devices 100% of the day as this is impractical from a technology perspective in terms of battery life and not applicable as many classroom activities do not lend themselves to technology infusion. Q: Do I need to buy a special Laptop case? A: We don t encourage the use of Laptop cases f the program. Students typically have a backpack f carrying school supplies which they can also use to carry their device. Please insure the backpack has sufficient space to hold all the items a student will need to carry and if possible has some padding protection f the device. Laptop cases, although designed to carry and protect laptops, also inadvertently advertise their contents and are me prone to be stolen if left unattended. This infmation may be updated from time to time date please check your school s web page f the most recent version of this infmation.

The School Division is not responsible f lost stolen personal items but has put in place several measures to help secure student belongings; 1.

Definition Purpose Bring Your Own Device required Guidelines Responsibility for Devices

Definition Purpose Bring Your Own Device required Guidelines Responsibility for Devices Definition Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is a policy that allows students to bring and use their own personal electronic devices at school. Devices include but may not be limited to: tablets (such as ipad),