SVCC 2015 Year 7 12 elearning Secondary elearning Program. Parent Information

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1 2015 Secondary elearning Program Parent Information

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3 At Southern Vales Christian College (SVCC) we are excited about the future of technology and the ability to integrate technology with our curriculum to enhance our students education. We are working towards Information and Communication Technology (ICT) that is accessible to all our students and will prepare our students well for the digital world in which we live and for the future. Students in Years 10, 11 and 12 have been using ipads on a pilot program for the last three years. The feedback from students and staff that they are a useful device, but for secondary education they could not be the only device. Many students have been bringing their own laptops. This has been the experience of many secondary schools and we have decided to use laptops in our BYOD program. Students in Reception to Year 3 will use school-owned ipads for various lessons. Students in Years 4 and 5 will use a family-owned device. Year 6s will be issued a school-owned device on loan (levy will apply) for the year so that parents do not have to purchase equipment two years in a row (ie: an ipad for Year 6 in 2015, and a laptop for Year 7 in 2016). Students in Years 7 12 will use laptops. As we have invested in the My Big Campus student learning platform and using other online options it is not necessary for us to be prescriptive about the operating system of the laptop that students use (eg: Apple Mac ios or PC/Windows). That s great news for those families who have a preference for a particular operating system. Many families have been anticipating a program such as this in the school, as you see relatives and friends with children in other schools using devices 1:1. For others this may be a transition to digital learning that your family hasn t been exposed to yet. We will do everything that we can to provide support for this program to have a positive impact in your family and for increased learning outcomes for your children. Feel free to ask questions the parent information sessions are the best startingpoint and there will be ongoing opportunities as the program unfolds. Jenny Nelson Principal Les Kowald Hugh Serfontein Head of Secondary/Campus, Aldinga Head of Secondary, Morphett Vale If you ve got questions feel free to speak with one of us, or byod@svcc.sa.edu.au

4 Upgrading ICT Infrastructure As we move towards students having their own devices, we have been investing in the often unseen components that go into making effective access available. The school is making a considerable investment on an accelerated roll-out program in the following areas: increased data plans provided over fibre (rather than the current ADSL-equivalent services) upgrade to internet filtering software with increased reporting and monitoring switches (10Gb POE) with greater capacity for faster distribution of data once in the school s network replacing some fibre cabling from out-dated technology to industry standard (OM4). relocating some switching cabinets and wiring for increased capacity, security and efficiency installation of a wifi access point in each teaching area (more than doubling our current count) printers/copier/scanner units in newly established print hubs across each campus available for student use My Big Campus Students, teachers and parents are going to have greater access to online communication in This will be provided by the My Big Campus student learning platform. This system has been specifically designed for schools. My Big Campus has: portals for classes, interest groups, extra-curricular activities, sports activities, parents, everyone in the school community! Teachers post worksheets, project instructions, results and anything else that would previously be distributed on paper library of resources from educators all over the world and our teachers. These are all filtered and pre-approved the collaborative working tool for students and teachers social networking facility within a child specific environment with greater safety than other platforms (such as facebook) and so much more For more info, visit 2

5 Device Management SVCC s software enables: teachers to be able to view the sites and content that students are accessing the school to load software and apps on the computers in our network taking advantage of education and bulk pricing. Digital Security As part of the ICT upgrade we have transitioned to Lightspeed Systems internet security and monitoring software. More info available at: ources/web- filtering/ We take internet security seriously with a zero-tolerance policy on bullying or accessing inappropriate content. As we teach our students to operate in an exciting, but complex, digital world we will employ these technologies that assist to ensure student safety. Families will need to assess filtering software available to them at home for when the internet is accessed outside of the school network. Key Milestones The first round of information is being distributed in week 2 of term 4. Purchasing portal information will be distributed in the next fortnight. Helpdesk, pilot groups and other information opportunities will be established as required. Students will have an orientation session in the last week of January to connect to the network and ensure their laptop is ready to use in the 2015 school year. Students will be expected to have their laptop from the first school day in Pilot Program for Years 7 12 This BYOD program of laptops will be initially run for a two year period (until end 2016). This pilot program will help us gather data which will test our network and plan for future uprades, inform our staff professional development program and help us make the best decisions for the future. Feedback from students, families and staff will be used as part of the evaluation. Parents and teachers must partner to remain vigilant. 3

6 Purchasing Options The BYOD program consists of students supplying their own device, maintaining it, updating it and looking after it. Many schools are adopting a similar program as there is no specific funding for technology and students do a better job of looking after things that belong to them. Families may choose to: 1) use an existing laptop that they have and can allocate it full time to the student 2) purchase an laptop specifically for the student from an independent source 3) use the online purchasing portal that will be available on the school s website. Purchases will be fulfilled by an external third-party company who will offer: a. outright purchase, or b. rent-to-own option. This option may be attractive to many families as it has several value add components: insurance for loss, repair and replacement loan laptops and arrangement for repairs If you already have a laptop a self assessment to see if it s suitable? If your family already has a laptop that your child is able to use exclusively, it will be suitable to bring to school as long as it meets the following specifications: a long battery life that will last a whole day of use the operating system is the latest version for that model features such as: camera, speakers, microphone and wireless connectivity are all fullyfunctional consider the size and weight will it be suitable for your child to use in the mobile environment? ensure that the cover or bag that the laptop will be carried in is robust In general, the laptop should be less than 2 years old. First-level technical support and advice will be provided on a goodwill basis during the introduction of this program. However, please note for more technical advice we may refer to you some suppliers who are experts in ensuring your device is operating to a good standard. 4

7 Questions and Answers Do I need to buy apps or software? SVCC licences will mean that software (such as Microsoft Word, Excel) will be able to be loaded onto your laptop with no additional charge (this is already factored into the IT levy). Can my child use 3G/4G Cellular wifi at school? 3G/4G wifi units and mobile phones that can tether to mobile data plans are not permitted to be active at school. For your student s safety we provide completely filtered internet using a firewall in our WIFI network. Where can I get insurance for my child s laptop? What if my child wants to use an ipad or tablet as an additional device? Students will be able to have their tablet device connected to the SVCC network. It will be subject to the same internet filtering and device management protocols. There will be no expectation for them to have these supplementary devices, however some may find them of benefit. Laptop Security at School In most cases, the laptops will be with your child. When they are not required for a lesson or break-time, there are lockers in secondary classrooms for student to store their personal items. Classrooms are not left unlocked when a teacher is not in the room. It is expected that students will keep their devices home each night/weekend. If you purchase your laptop via the school portal, insurance will be included as part of that arrangement. If you choose to BYOD - it will be best to speak with your household insurance company and see what cover is available for a student device. The school insurance policy does not cover these personal items. 5

8 Battery Charging at School One of the key pieces of advice given to us by many schools who have already rolled-out a program is around charging. The expectation will be that the device will be fully-charged when students arrive at school each day. The condition of the battery in the device needs to be sufficient to get through a day of usage without charging. In the rare occasion that a top up is required, there will be charging stations at key locations (eg: Resource Centre Charging Station), but this should only be used in exceptional circumstances and not relied upon. You ll most likely be aware that all electric and electronic equipment used on campus must be electrical tagged for all of our safety. It would be cost prohibitive and logistically onerous for the school to facilitate tagging of chargers for all students. Support Helpdesks are being established in the Resource Centre. These will be staffed at various times during the week including lunchtimes. These will operate like a genius bar where students and staff will be able to walk up and ask questions. For more complex questions a session may be booked. For family-owned laptops they will be connected to the school s wifi network and basic helpdesk support. Advice will not include hardware support or loan laptop. Where the laptop has been purchased via the school s online portal a complete support service will be offered including repair and loan machines as required. This is of benefit to the families and the school in that because of the bulk purchase of devices, the provider undertakes to give a high level of support to ensure students have ongoing access to a device. Accessing the Internet Access to the internet will only be possible via the school s wifi connections with a school login and password. This ensures that all internet content is filtered by our educational-grade, monitored filtering software. Insurance, Repairs & Replacement Families who opt to provide their own laptops will be fully responsible for insuring the unit. If purchased through the portal there will be helpdesk support, loan machines and school will arrange with supplier for pickup for repairs. 6