The BYOD program
Bring Your Own Device or BYOD program allows a student to bring a personally-owned technology device such as a tablet or laptop from home and use it to connect to the school's DoE Wi-Fi network. Devices must be primarily for learning and all users must submit a signed BYOD Student Agreement before accessing the Wi-Fi network.
Why use BYOD
A literature review undertaken by the NSW Department of Education and Communities in 2013 found that the key considerations for implementing BYOD were:
- The widespread availability of wireless internet-enabled devices.
- The integral nature of these devices to the students' own world.
- The possibility of leveraging students’ attachment to their own devices to deepen learning and to make learning more personalised and student-centred.
Embracing 21st Century Learning
Kincumber High School has adopted a platform of 21st Century or future-focussed skills to inform our use of technology in learning and to prepare our students for a technological future.
- Collaboration and Communication - work cooperatively with others, at Kincumber High School and across the globe, embracing flexibility and compromise, to articulate a range of ideas in a variety of creative, digital forms.
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving - using various types of reasoning to apply to a range of contexts. Responding to challenges using conventional and innovative solutions.
- Creativity and Imagination - work creatively with others to invent and develop new and exciting concepts and ideas.
- Global Digital Citizenship - preparing students to participate in a an increasingly accessible worldwide network where an understanding of their own safety, rights and responsibilities is essential for a positive future.
Student Responsibility
In the BYOD program, students must:
- ensure their devices are safe and secure at all times
- protect their devices using carry cases, screen guards, etc
- use devices according to school and NSW DEC policies
- consider the Student use of digital devices and online services policy by the NSW Department of Education
Recommended devices
Participation in BYOD is absolutely voluntary. Families are not required to purchase a technology device to support their student's learning. Students and their families are free to choose a device that best suits them according to the school's BYOD specifications.
Software
Purchasing and installing software for laptops can be a significant extra cost. While families are free to choose their own software, there is a range of software available at no cost:
- This is the website currently available (October 2016) to support the free download of Microsoft, Adobe, and more software for NSW Public School students. https://nsw-students.onthehub.com/WebStore/Welcome.aspx
- DEC Microsoft and Adobe offer - this video explains the process but is from 2014 and slightly out of date. Video length 10:26 minutes
eSafety website links:
- eSafety replaces the Cybersmart Government website. eSafety
- The Digizen website provides information for educators, parents, carers, and young people. It is used to strengthen their awareness and understanding of what digital citizenship is and encourages users of technology to be and become responsible DIGItal citiZENS. Visit Digizen
- Essential information for students, teachers and parents about digital citizenship and being safe, positive and responsible online.Visit the departments website Digital citizenship.