Frequently Asked Questions
Please Note: These questions are updated and added to regularly.
Is my son required to bring a personal learning device to school?
In 2014, students in Years 5-12 are allowed to bring a personal learning device to school provided the appropriate forms are filled out and permissions sought. For each student involved in the Pilot Programs, (Years 5,6,7 and 9) at various times through out the year, it will be mandatory. In 2015, each student in Years 5-12 will be required to bring a personal learning device to school every day. Why BYOD and not a 1:1 laptop program? BYOD is a philosophical shift away from a school-mandated approach of delivering devices to providing high-quality learning environments and experiences that are more tailored to individual students’ needs. As a result of the Digital Education Revolution (DER) funding now being finished, the school does not wish to burden parents with an additional cost for a mandated device. We have found that many families have already purchased or intend to purchase one for their son. CBHS Lewisham will provide guidelines on the minimum hardware and software requirements for the devices to operate effectively at School. The approach of ‘Bring your own device’ (BYOD), enables families to utilise an existing device from home or purchase one which best suits the child’s needs and preferences, in and outside of school. Today’s technological world integrates many mobile devices and students should be able to make choices with the technology they use for their own learning. What sort of device should I provide for my son? We believe that students should use the device with which they are most comfortable and that is able to be provided by families. We have not specified brands, models or operating systems, believing that choice is crucial for both students and their families. With each Pilot Program we have provided guidelines and minimum requirements for the technology students are to use. What happens after the BYOD Trials? Will parents be stuck with an extra laptop or iPad if it doesn't work? Rest assured, the BYOD program will continue beyond the scheduled trial period. From the beginning of 2015 all students will require their own personal learning device. The purpose of our various trials is:
Can't he just use his phone? No. A Smart Phone does not qualify as a personal learning device under our BYOD policy and has a range of limitations. We do acknowledge however, the use of smart phones for learning activities where individual classroom teachers deem it appropriate and acceptable. Won’t this make my son’s schoolbag heavier? We are very conscious of the issue of bag weight, particularly for our boys in the younger years. We are currently looking into the utilisation of electronic textbooks and the digitising of existing resources. The absence of physical textbooks in students bags will significantly reduce their weight.We do recommend that the weight of any device utilised at school is less than 2kg. What if my son's device is broken at school? As with all personally owned equipment, students retain responsibility for their own property. We strongly urge parents to purchase a cover or protective sleeve (or both) to assist with the longevity and physical safety of the device. Parents are advised to make their own arrangements regarding insurance and cover for accidental damage. The School will not take responsibility for accidental damage to student property, nor do our insurance policies cover it. We will continue to refine our policies and practices for the security of personal learning devices at school. How can I protect my child's device against theft? It would be sensible to ensure that your son’s property is named through engraving or other indelible marking (please clarify that this does not void the warranty before getting your device engraved). Different devices also have different options for location when or if they go missing. For example, an iPad has a built-in service called “Find my iPad” that can help locate the device on a map if it is enabled before the device is lost. Likewise, software is available for laptops that can enable them to be located when missing. One such product is Absolute Software’s CompuTrace LoJack for Laptops. Absolute Software also provide the services of a Theft Recovery Team that will work with local law enforcement to assist in the recovery of a stolen laptop, along with many other features. |
How will the College support equity for all students?
We recognise that some families have greater access to technology than others. CBHS Lewisham believes that its role should be to support those families in genuine need of assistance in terms of device acquisition and maintenance. We are committed to providing a learning environment that allows equal access to contemporary learning experiences for all students. We are in the process of developing and refining a BYOD Equity Policy which will be distributed to the broader school community in the near future. Won’t technology become a status symbol amongst students? This may certainly be the case. We live in a society which often makes status symbols out of possessions, so it is unlikely that technology will be any different. It is our sincere hope that we, as a community, continue to model and aspire to values that place character over possessions and virtues over self-promotion. It is our shared responsibility to help our boys become aware of the shallow and transient nature of status symbols. Luke 12:15 – “And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” How will devices be used in classes? Some of the things that students will be able to do include:
How should devices be used in class? In negotiation with students, teachers will decide when and how all devices will be used in the classroom environment. All students will be expected to use their devices in a manner that is aligned with the expectations and values of the School. Students will be supported to grow as responsible digital citizens and as such the School will take action, where necessary, to ensure that all students are demonstrating this responsibility in the physical world and the digital world. How should students store their data? The School will provide each and every student with a school based Google Account which allows students to create and store files in a 'cloud' environment. This means that their data will be available on any internet capable device with an approved browser. (preferably Google Chrome). Students will become familiar with methods of storing and organising their data both on their devices and in the cloud. For files that are high priority or very large, such as video or extended music files, students will need to use a combination of storage on their device, external USB based storage and the cloud. Will students stop handwriting? No, students will be required to use pen and paper as indicated by the teacher of a particular course. Some teachers may opt to have students use their devices more than others, and this will be aligned to the expectations of the School with regards to a diverse and dynamic learning environment. For now, many external examinations such as NAPLAN and the HSC require hand written responses. Physical writing is still an important aspect of communication and will be included in teaching programs as necessary What policies and structures will guide the students’ use of ICT? The school is currently developing a series of four policies which will have to be read and agreed to by students and their families prior to their involvement in our BYOD Program. They include:
These policy will be distributed to the broader school community in the near future. |