CGHS Recommended devices for BYOD Year 9 2019

In 2019 Years 9 - 12  are blended learning classes where it is highly recommended that students bring their own device to school to support their learning. A specification list has been created to assist with choice of a suitable device. This is based on feedback from students, staff, industry experts and consultation with other secondary schools in NZ. While CGHS does not recommend a specific brand of laptop, we have a list of specifications which we think fulfil the needs for effective learning at school. 

Rationale behind recommendations:

• We need to prepare our students for future digitalised NZQA assessment, tertiary study and the work environment
• There are a number of pedagogical benefits: the NZ curriculum specifically references the value of e-Learning and international research shows the benefits of e-Learning for enhancing learning outcomes for students
• There are increased opportunities for collaborative learning
• Students exist largely in a digital world outside of school and yet school is often a non-digital world. BYOD has the potential to increase the engagement in learning as students use the tools with which they are familiar to facilitate their learning

The recommended specifications are:

• Battery life: 6 - 8 hours. Note that battery life will lessen over time. Ensure devices are fully charged at home before the school day
• Keyboard
• Screen size of 11.6 inches or more
• Light enough to be carried around during the day
• Protective case
• 5GHz Wireless capability
• USB Port
• Built in camera and sound recording
• RAM – Minimum of 4GB (8GB is recommended) 
• Hard Drive should be at least 128GB Solid State drive. Please note: Where possible purchasing devices with SSD drives is advantageous as these prove to be more reliable long term
• Microsoft Office license – provided free by CGHS while at school
• Output capability
• Insurance (CGHS is not responsible for damage or loss of the device)

Recommended Devices at CGHS:

Please note the following features about the range of recommended devices:

• All pricing includes GST
• They are robust
• Currently, the small range extends from an Acer Aspire to a Macbook Air with prices from just over $500.00 to over $1500.00. This is to offer variety to meet most budgets and different ideas of value for money
• The Acer Aspire is an option as a starting point for a Y9 student. This offers good internet access and use for cloud based computing applications. The limitation of this device is if your daughter is likely to want to do more intensive offline applications (e.g. in graphics, design, arts) they may outgrow the functionality  
• Macs may have some compatability issues with our network, but most of these can be worked around if this is the device you choose to bring
• We do not recommend iOS devices (iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone) or Android. The reason is that we believe with a full operating system one can overcome most compatibility issues

Cyclone Computers:

Cyclone Computers is a NZ owned company. CGHS does not profit from parent purchases of devices through their portal. Additional software and accidental damage insurance is available too. 

Please note that the computers sold by Cyclone have warranty bundles attached to them of 3 years duration, and they do not sell computers without the bundle as they feel it is more responsible to do this. You will need to decide if this is the right purchase option for you.

The warranty information can be accessed here: https://www.cyclone.co.nz/insurance-warranty/

The Cyclone Computers schools portal can be accessed here: http://byod.cyclone.co.nz/christchurchgirls and contains a range of devices for you to look at and compare. Select Christchurch Girls’ High School and enter the login: christchurchgirls and the password: cghsbyod.

Other Suppliers:

There are other suppliers you may wish to consider when purchasing a device. Some examples are:

• The Harvey Norman website http://www.harveynorman.co.nz/computers/laptops/ offers a wide range of laptops and tablets like the HP Stream and Microsoft Surface and often have interest free deals and sales.
• Apple (NZ) http://www.apple.com/nz/mac/ offer education pricing to university students, students accepted into university, parents buying for university students, teachers, lecturers and staff at all levels. You may be able to take advantage of this if you meet the criteria.
• The Noel Leeming website https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/computers-tablets/laptops/c8001-c4311-p1.html also offers a wide range of laptops and tablets. They too often have interest free offers and sales.

Insurance:

Please considering insurance options carefully. The benefit of buying device insurance can often be the amount of excess. Cyclone offer an insurance without excess, which is much better than most standard house and content insurances. Provident Material Damage Insurance sold by Cyclone is effective from the purchase date of your device,  and will expire in accordance to your specific insurance terms and conditions.

Cover for accidental damage, theft, burglary, fire and loss for up to 3 years. New Zealand cover only and must be purchased with the device.

TAKING CARE OF YOUR LAPTOP:

Your laptop is an expensive piece of electronic equipment and you should take great care with it. Some handy tips… 

• Never leave equipment unattended, even for a short time
• Always lock it away when not using it at school or in the office
• Keep drinks and water bottles well away from your laptop
• It is best to use your laptop on a hard surface to reduce overheating
• Never leave your device in an unlocked car, even for a few minutes
• Even in a locked car, keep your laptop out of sight, preferably in the boot
• Always carry your laptop in its bag/sleeve and ensure the bag/sleeve is fully zipped up or closed
• Always look after your bag. Everyone knows what's inside
• Insurance does not cover cosmetic damage, negligence, abuse or malicious damage

BYOD at CGHS

Rationale

The Ministry of Education defines eLearning as learning that is enabled or supported with the use of information and communication technologies (ICT).

e-Learning is an area of dramatic change in New Zealand schools. Current research identifies that e-Learning tools can motivate and engage students. This motivation and engagement can be a critical catalyst as our teachers continue to strive to offer authentic, relevant and dynamic learning for CGHS students. 

The New Zealand Curriculum encourages schools to explore not only how ICT can supplement traditional ways of teaching but also how it can open up new and different ways of learning. It specifically identifies the potential of eLearning to:

• Assist in the making connections by enabling students to enter and explore new learning environments, overcoming barriers of distance and time
• Facilitate shared learning by enabling students to join or create communities of learners that expend well beyond the classroom
• Assist in the creation of supportive learning environments by offering resources that take account of individual, cultural, or developmental differences
• Enhance opportunities to learn by offering students the virtual experiences and tools that save them time, allowing them to take their learning further

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) are responding to the global and digital environment that is integral to the first decades of the 21^st century. The changes they are making now will lead to NZQA being online, on-demand, anywhere, anytime. The way students do assessments and what we assess will change. We can best prepare our students here at CGHS for these changes by giving them opportunities to complete assessments online. Read here for more information from NZQA.

Why Student Owned?

The advantages of students bringing their own device are varied. The internet is continuing to develop into an essential platform for learning. As an important resource for all students it gives them the ability to communicate, collaborate, and extend their learning as they strive to become resourceful, well-balanced, positively-contributing citizens.

Specifically, students at CGHS will be able to:

• Have anytime, anywhere access to class resources, activities and learning through our internet-based Learning Management System; OnStream
• Communicate with their teachers and peers through the school’s web based email system
• Access a range of collaborative learning tools through Google Apps and Office 365
• Develop e-portfolio’s in various forms to enable them to gather evidence of their learning
• Receive differentiated learning tasks which will better reflect their individual needs and current progress 

OnStream

Launched in 2012 OnStream is CGHS’s Learning Management System. Its purpose is to be the central platform for all Learning Areas to develop and access all eLearning.  A myriad of other resources such as course outlines, useful websites, class handouts, formative assessment, online submission of assignments, glossaries, email, calendar, and school notices are able to be linked to it. BYOD will enable staff and students to fully utilise the potential of this platform to engage students to take full responsibility for their anywhere, anytime learning.

Google Apps

CGHS staff and students have full access to the Google Apps for Education products including; email, Docs, Drive, Classroom, Youtube, Calendar. These tools allow students to fully collaborate and communicate with their teachers and peers.

Office 365

Office 365 Education for Students is available for free to CGHS students. Our students can install Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access on up to 5 Macs/PCs,and 5 Android/iPad/Windows tablets, and Office apps on unlimited mobile devices.  Included is unlimited OneDrive storage, managed by the school, and students can edit and collaborate using Office Online, Yammer, and SharePoint sites.

eTV

eTV is New Zealand’s largest online depository of video content. Staff and students have access to this valuable resource to help utilise the power of their own personalised media library.

Accessit

Accessit is the CGHS library catalogue, and is available online from any device at school. This will bring the power of the library into all classrooms when required.   

eChalk

eChalk is a collection of interactive activities, games, animations, simulations and quizzes which are designed specifically for classroom teaching with a focus on learning though fun. Students can access and use the resource with their devices, including mobiles, for revision.