All students are encouraged to participate in the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) program where they bring a personally owned device to school to enhance their learning.
A laptop is the primary BYO Device for all year levels. Download the specification sheet to assist with your purchase decision. The device should ideally be covered by an extended warranty and accidental damage insurance and be carried in a protective carry case at all times.
For more information see the parent information presentation.
Why BYOD?
The reality is that online tools and resources have changed the
educational landscape. Students can now carry with them, and have
available at their fingertips, almost unlimited access to multimedia
content, reference material, online experts and collaborative and creative tools.
Google, Wikipedia, data-enabled mobile phones, Facebook and
YouTube were all launched during the lifetime of most of our students.
They have never known a world without these devices and services, and the connectivity they deliver.
Laptops have become more affordable and provide students with 24/7
access to a vast network of information. Portable devices are already a big part of students' lives and are integral to the world in
which they live. It's ideal to see them as integral to their learning.
How do I select a device from so many choices?
Here are the recommended steps to acquire a device for your child.
- Read the BYOD Handbook & Agreement
- If you haven't already, read the "Before you buy a new laptop for school" section on the FAQ page
- Print the BYOD specification sheet to refer to when shopping
- Compare deals from the purchase portal and other laptop suppliers
- Confirm warranty and accidental damage cover are included in the price and that the faulty device return processses are convenient and cost-effective for you (see below).
Warranty and Accidental Damage Protection (ADP)
Computers are complex devices and they can break down and are subject to accidental damage, especially in the hands of teenagers. It's vital
therefore to ensure a fast, and preferably no-cost, turnaround for repairs when the need arises.
We highly recommend adding ADP (Accidental Damage Protection) insurance
and a NBD (Next Business Day) on-site warranty. You may also have the
option of adding the device to your home and contents insurance policy
but be sure that it covers the device 24/7 and while away from your
home.
We recommend you ask for a 3 year warranty which allows for you to return the device to the store where you purchased it, or to a local Gympie service agent.
If you purchase from one of the suppliers portals and the deal includes an on-site warranty, we have the capacity in our IT Service Centre to accommodate repair agents. That means they come to the school to do repairs on your child's laptop. Some suppliers offer a NBD (next business day) warranty service. This is the fastest warranty arrangement you can get and represents good value for money. Check with the supplier to see if it's included in the purchase price.
BYOD device specifications
Print the specification sheet for guidance when selecting a device for your student.
School-based technical support
An integral part of the BYOD program is the onsite support offered by the school IT support team. Knowing that there's someone at school who can assist your child in getting the most out of their device helps to put your mind at ease.
School technical support staff can perform standard checks and tests on BYOD equipment including connecting to the network, accessing printers, and logging jobs for machines covered by an on-site warranty. This may depend on vendor warranty terms and conditions but the team will help in any way they can.
It may become necessary for students to restore their device using recovery software supplied in the box or by following another reset procedure. In these cases students will need to take the device home and
follow the recovery instructions provided by the vendor. Our school technical support team will be able to assist with minor problems and may be able to offer advice where more extensive repairs or work is required.
It is important to realise that our support staff are not able to perform any repairs or maintenance on your BYO device. This would likely void the warranty.
Additional reading
Browse through the other pages in the Computers and Technology section to find out more about our eLearning strategy, BYOD and technology use at Gympie State High School.
Contact us
If after looking through these online materials, and the FAQ page, you still have unanswered questions, please email us at byod@gympieshs.eq.edu.au.