At John Edmondson High School we want to support all families to ensure their child has the best possible device for learning. If you have a device for your child, it is important to ensure it has specifications that enables learning. We have prepared a device specification checklist (PDF 705KB) that you can use for this purpose, or for reference when purchasing a new device.
We have also established a relationship with Learning With Technologies, an education on-selling company, that can provide a few options for device purchases. We have listed some recommended devices on this portal for parents who choose to use this service.
Cost concerns
The purchase of a device is a major decision and a significant expense. A quality device should last from Year 7 to Year 12. Therefore, if viewed over six years the expense is significantly less.
Internet access through the Department's network will be provided at no cost to students. Access to Office 365 and Google Apps for Education will also be available at no cost to students. This means that there is no need to purchase Microsoft Office as software for devices. The Adobe suite will also be offered free through the Department of Education.
We are committed to the delivery of the same learning outcomes for all our students whatever their family’s financial circumstances. We have developed an equity policy that outlines a number of strategies the school may take, in consultation with you, to support access to technology.
Bring your own device (BYOD) equity policy
BYOD programs in an educational setting inherently impose a financial cost on students and their families in supplying a device. The John Edmondson High School BYOD program can only function effectively if all students have access to a device that meets the device specifications. There will be available a small quantity of 'pool' devices maintained by the school for short term loan only.
To ensure access and equity for all students, under the BYOD program, the school has established procedures for families to apply for assistance in obtaining access to a device that meets the device specification. If you believe you are unable to provide a device that meets the specification, you may make an application in writing to the principal, or make an appointment to speak with the principal, so that your particular case can be outlined.
While the school won’t purchase devices for students in the BYOD program, there are several options available to provide assistance to students.
These include:
- the loan of a laptop or other device for a particular day
- the recurrent daily loan of a laptop or other device.
You will be asked to make an agreement with the school that confirms the alternate arrangements made for your child’s access to a device. Any damage or loss of the loan device will have to be paid for by the student or their family.
Device security
There is no secure storage available at school and the school and the Department of Education does not accept any liability for loss, damage or theft of student devices. You are advised to consider insuring the device against loss or damage, particularly if it is of significant value. It is also worth checking with your 'home and contents' insurer, as some insurers will cover portable devices up to certain values.
The best security measures are the student’s own vigilance and responsibility towards their own device. However, you might also consider using a device locator service or an application to track your lost device. These services/applications include the 'Find my iPad' service built-in to Apple iOS devices, 'Prey' for Windows or 'LoJack for Laptops' and many more. You can also track your device's IP address with Gmail or Dropbox, or other apps like ‘Plan B’. There are many helpful websites that explain the setup of these apps and services.
The school does not own, support or warrant the device. Experience from the ‘Digital Education Revolution scheme' indicates that students who took good care of their device and considered themselves the device's owner rarely had device security issues. A range of protective covers are available online or in stores. It is highly recommended that students protect all devices while in use or stored in their school bags.
Acceptable use of devices – terms and conditions
Students and parents must sign and return the bring your own device user agreement (PDF 705KB) in order to bring and use an approved technology device to school.
Students are to use these devices responsibly at all times at school and must follow JEHS Technology Policy (PDF 412KB), JEHS BYOD policy (PDF 578KB) and the ‘DEC Online Communication Services: Acceptable Usage for School Students’ at all times. Devices must not be used in a way that disrupts or is likely to disrupt the learning environment or interfere with the operation of the school or Department of Education (DoE).
Devices are to be on silent at all times during lessons unless teachers direct otherwise. Teachers may choose to insist all students place their devices face down, or closed, on their desks.
Use of devices during class time is solely at the teacher’s discretion. Students must follow the teacher’s instructions and not interrupt their own or other students’ learning.
Misuse of a device may result in confiscation. Depending on the severity of the breach, the return collection of the device will be negotiated.
Students are not permitted to use any electronic device to record audio or video media or take photographs of any student or staff member, including lessons, without the knowledge and permission of a teacher. Failing to adhere to this rule may result in suspension and in extreme cases; the matter may be referred to police. The distribution of any unauthorised media may result in disciplinary action including but not limited to suspension, criminal charges, and expulsion.
Devices must not be used to bully, intimidate, harass others through SMS or text messaging, or through photographic, video, or other data transfer system/application available on the device. Failing to adhere to this rule may result in suspension and in extreme cases; the matter may be referred to police.
Devices must not be used to download or otherwise access inappropriate material on the internet such as child abuse, pornographic or other offensive material.
Devices must not be used to film fights or other inappropriate behaviour involving students that occur at school, during school activities or while on the way to or from school.
Devices must not be used in a way that threatens or is likely to threaten the safety or wellbeing of any person or for any use that is in breach of any law.
Students who bring devices to school must take responsibility for them. Staff members take no responsibility for such devices and it is not possible for them to carry out lengthy investigations if a device goes missing or if a device gets damaged
No backup or printing services will be provided by the school.
Students who persistently misuse a device may face suspension and may have their privilege of bringing it to school removed.
Devices must not be attached to any school-owned equipment without the permission of a teacher.
Devices must not be used to hack or bypass any hardware and software security or filters implemented by the Department of Education or the school.
Students should not use any device to search for, link to, access or send anything that is offensive, pornographic, threatening, abusive, defamatory or considered to be bullying.
Students must be aware of the appropriateness of communications when using school or personally owned devices. Inappropriate communication is prohibited in any public messages, private messages, and material posted online by students.
Students may not utilise any technology to harass, threaten, demean, humiliate, intimidate, embarrass, or annoy their classmates or others in their community. This unacceptable student behaviour is known as cyberbullying and will not be tolerated. Any cyberbullying that is determined to disrupt the safety and/or well-being of the school is subject to disciplinary action.
Students are not permitted to use unacceptable devices under the school’s BYOD program. These include, but are not limited to, mobile phones or any device with a screen size less than 9.7 inches.
JEHS attempts to provide a safe Internet experience for students by deploying the department’s filtering technology. To utilise the school’s wireless network, students are required to log in through their DEC Student Portal. While we are aware that students have access to the internet through mobile phones, the use of mobile phones as a BYOD solution is not allowed.
Students are prohibited from connecting to other networks at school. All SIM cards must be removed and students must not use any 3G or 4G connections to connect to the Internet or any applications. Any student who connects or ‘tethers’ their device to their mobile phone in order to gain access to the Internet will be breaching the BYOD User Agreement and as such school discipline consequences for the breach will apply.
When at school, students will use their wireless connection exclusively for educational purposes. Activities such as downloading files not related to schoolwork, playing computer games, or watching movies is not permitted and breaches acceptable use of the school wireless network. Students using the wireless network for anything other than educational purposes could result in disciplinary action.
Students should use strong passwords and have suitable privacy controls. They should neither let other students use their device nor should they reveal their passwords to another individual.
Students who are also enrolled with TAFE or have a TAFE account are not permitted to use TAFE logins at school. Use of TAFE account at school will be considered as a breach of the user agreement and may result in disciplinary action.
This device is owned by you or the student. However, a student must remember that their teachers will be given full access to the device under the user agreement. If a student would not want a teacher to see something, then it should not be on the device. The space on the device should be reserved for applications to support learning.
JEHS reserves the right to access and inspect a student’s personal device if there is reason to believe that the student has violated any Department of Education policies, administrative procedures, school rules or has engaged in other misconduct while using their personal device. Violations of any school policies, administrative procedures or school rules involving a student’s personally owned device will result in confiscation of the device, loss of privileges to use the device in school and/or school’s disciplinary action.