What is Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) A Bring Your Own Device refers to students bringing a personally owned mobile device to school for the purpose of learning. All year 7-10 students and year 11-12 MSA students will be required to bring a device to school in 2015. Students in Year 11 and 12 in General Excellence, RIA and RSA will not be required to bring their own device to school in 2015, but they may choose to do so if they wish. We will be making recommendations as to the model of device you may bring. Or you can bring something of your own choosing that meets our Minimum Device Specification (see below). Very specific applications are required for learning with an ipad. When an ipad is specified, it may not be substituted for another type of device. Devices are not covered by the school, so parents are strongly encouraged to consider insurance and warranty cover. Information regarding recommended models of laptop will be available through the Purchase Portal accessible via the school website. Parents will be notified when this Portal is opened (late in term 3). Minimum Specifications ipad wi-fi 32 gb laptop Processor between i3 or i5 Min 4 gb ram 13-15 screen Min 120 gb hard drive Windows 8.1 or later
BYOD Device Type by Program and Year Level Program Year Level Device GE 7 ipad 8 ipad 9 ipad 10 Min specification laptop 11/12 optional MSA 7 Min specification laptop 8 Laptop 9 Laptop 10 Laptop 11 Laptop 12 Laptop RIA 7 ipad 8 ipad 9 Min specification Macbook (2015 only) 10 Min specification Macbook 11/12 optional RSA 7 ipad 8 ipad 9 Min specification laptop (2015 only) 10 Min specification laptop 11/12 Optional Device required for first time in 2015 Optional BYOD in 2015 Why is RSC introducing BYOD in 2015? Technology makes learning possible in ways we never even dreamt of. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwkd-gukkfc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na1aqp0spqo
Today s students are IT savvy children who have never known life without a computer or the internet. They study, work, write and interact with each other in ways different from the previous generation. Our community is very excited about how BYOD will support classroom learning next year. We are very fortunate that the School Council has made a significant and substantial financial contribution of more than $400,000 given that the Federal Government is no longer supporting computers for schools. This will provide cutting edge technology that supports fast and reliable access to technically sophisticated school resources. The deployment of latest technologies in WiFi networking, increased coverage and load balancing will ensure an overall improved user experience across both the East and West Campus. New Internet services will provide greater bandwidth performance to allow instant access to the latest web content and services. In addition, the establishment of filtering services ensures only suitable content is made available to students. The latest Firewall, User Identifications, Download Caching, Load Balancing and Reporting all assist in ensuring the safety of student data and content delivery. A key component to the BYOD is the addition of a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). In providing a VDI solution, we are able to ensure students have full access to the digital curriculum components needed to support teaching and learning structures in place at Rowville Secondary College. VDI will allow students to access a virtual desktop environment at school or from home, with all required applications and structured content delivery. Advantages to BYOD Personal devices assist with individualizing the learning in our classrooms. Technology enables rich, authentic learning tasks that are otherwise impossible. Technology breaks down classroom walls and takes learning anywhere across the world. Through the use of different apps/software, students are able to choose the type of product they construct to demonstrate their meaning. The abundance of apps/software and access to information on any topic allows students to pursue areas they are interested in learning about. Notes can be kept in one spot, commented on and available anywhere. Devices are increasingly light and portable and easily carried in a bag from class to class. Heavy schoolbooks may be substantially replaced by e-books. Documents and tasks can be uploaded and downloaded by students and teachers, both at school and at home.
Texts and documents can be annotated and commented on by multiple students and teachers. The device will aid students in organising their time and studies by providing ready access to email, homework and calendars. Personally owned devices are taken much better care of by students, improving user experience and promoting individual responsibility. What changes will there be that support BYOD? The booklist will have both traditional text-books and e-books options for students. Details on how to purchase e-books will be distributed to families early in term 4. All students will have access to a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, which gives access to a student s desktop immediately at school and remotely from home. All students will have access to High Speed Broadband Access whilst at school A Filtering Service that meets DEECD Standards will assist with safe and acceptable internet use whilst at school. Through dedicated project teams and Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) support and services, Rowville Secondary College has invested significant time and money in the development of a BYOD program. This investment will continue to provide ongoing support to teachers; students and parents by ensuring structures are in place to improve student learning outcomes. Technical Components NEW Wireless (WiFi) Network. NEW Vertel Internet Service. NEW Content Filtering Service. NEW Virtual Desktop Infrastructure. NEW Purchasing Portal. Aruba 802.11AC 100mb internet connection NetBoxBlue Filtering for internet delivery and firewall Virtual (Windows) desktop for every student Online Purchasing site for parents/byod devices
What do parents/guardians need to prepare for 2015? Ensure your child has a suitable device that meets the required minimum specifications for their year level and program. Rowville Secondary College will be providing a Purchasing Portal to allow parents to purchase BYOD approved devices in support of the infrastructure standards now made available at the college. Benefits for parents include extensively negotiated competitive pricing, ease of knowing your child has the right device for the enrolled programs with consultative support from the onsite technical support team and insurance and warranty options. Parents will be notified when this Portal is opened (late in term 3). Parents may or may not choose to use this method of purchase. Parents are strongly encouraged to consider insurance and warranty cover for BYODs, as they are not covered by the school. Devices purchased through the Purchase Portal will have warranty and insurance options. Ensure your child has a suitable protective case and/or carry bag for their device. Purchase either E-books or textbooks. Details about how and where to do this will be given to parents early in term 4. Sign and return to school the Acceptable User Agreement that indicates you have read and agree to the RSC protocol and procedure documents that support the BYOD. This agreement will be sent home with your child and will also be available to download from the RSC website www.rowvillesc.vic.edu.au and the document section on your child s ReSourCe dashboard https://rowvillesc.studyturf.com School Fees from 2015 will include a $70 IT levy. This is an extremely important contribution to the school that will assist to offset the infrastructure and personnel costs of a viable BYOD that supports student learning. Assist your child to know and understand the RSC Learning Protocols and how to be a safe, responsible and ethical user. We recognize that the purchase of a device is a major decision and a significant expense. A good quality device may last a number of years and viewed over the long term, the total expenses of school are considerably less. The purpose of identifying minimum specifications is to allow families to utilise suitable devices that they already own. The Purchase Portal that will be available from the school website has extensively negotiated competitively priced devices at a range of price points. Students will only require a maximum of 2 devices over the 6 years of their Secondary Education. RSC has developed an Equity Policy designed to assist families experiencing financial difficulties. Please contact the College for further details.
FAQs 1. Do I need to purchase a new device for my child? Read the table above to understand the requirements for your child. Minimum specifications and device type will differ depending on year level and program. If your child already owns a device that meets the requirements, they can bring that to school and will not need to buy a new device. 2. If I need to buy a device for my child, where should I purchase it from? You may purchase devices from any supplier, however, RSC has negotiated a competitive deal with Trident who will make a purchase portal available from the RSC website. Parents will be notified when the Purchase Portal is opened (late term 3). The Purchase Portal will contain a number of options for students at different price points. All of the options will satisfy the minimum required specifications. 3. What happens if my child s device gets damaged or stolen whilst at school. Parents are strongly encouraged to consider insurance and warranty cover for BYODs, as they are not covered by the school. Devices purchased through the Purchase Portal will have warranty and insurance options. RSC has developed policies, protocols and procedures designed to encourage safe and responsible use, but cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage of devices. 4. How much will BYOD cost? We recognize that the purchase of a device is a major decision and a significant expense. A good quality device may last a number of years and viewed over the long term, the total expenses of school are considerably less. The purpose of identifying minimum specifications is to allow families to utilise suitable devices that they already own. The Purchase Portal that will be available from the school website has extensively negotiated competitively priced devices at a range of price points.
Students will only require a maximum of 2 devices over the 6 years of their Secondary Education and devices already purchased for the Year Seven and Eight Learning Communities and MSA will continue to be used. School Fees from 2015 will include a $70 IT levy. This is an extremely important contribution to the school that will assist to offset the infrastructure and personnel costs of a viable BYOD that supports student learning. RSC has developed an Equity Policy designed to assist families experiencing financial difficulties. Please contact the College for further details. 5. Will my child use their device all the time? No. devices are tools for learning that will be used along with all the other tools available at school and home (e.g. pen, paper, calculators, books, etc). 6. Will students use their devices before school or during breaks? Devices will be left in lockers during breaks. (Students may be involved in special, teacher-supervised activities during breaks that require devices. In this case, the teacher-in-charge will manage the children while they collect, use and return their devices.) 7. Will my child stlll use hand writing? Yes. Devices will not totally replace handwriting. The mode of communication used will depend on the learning opportunity. 8. Will internet access be filtered? Yes. All internet access via our network (WiFi and wired) is routed through NetBoxBlue Filtering for internet delivery and firewall. Whilst this is a new and sophisticated system, it is worth noting that no filter system is perfect given the dynamic nature of the internet.