senior school technology program information... · local retailers who can supply devices including...

ROUSE HILL ANGLICAN COLLEGE

Senior School Technology Program


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In this document you will find information and answers to questions you may have about the Senior School Technology Program at Rouse Hill Anglican College. The program has been at the College for many years although we have made small changes to the program over time. All students in the Senior School are expected to bring a device with them to the College as a part of the normal learning routine.

If you have further questions which are not covered here, please do not hesitate to contact the Director of Teaching and Learning or the College IT Department with your enquiry.

CONTENTS

Contents ................................................................................................................................................................... 2

The Program............................................................................................................................................................. 3

Teaching and Learning ......................................................................................................................................... 3

Year Seven and Eight iPad Program ................................................................................................................... 4

Year Nine to Twelve Technology Program ........................................................................................................ 6

General Questions .................................................................................................................................................. 7

Connections ............................................................................................................................................................ 8

Day to Day Use and Support ................................................................................................................................ 9

Year Seven and Eight App Requirements........................................................................................................ 10


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THE PROGRAM Q: Why have a technology program?

A: As educators it is imperative that we keep abreast of educational research and ensure that we carefully assess and apply relevant current teaching practices at the College. One area which has been at the forefront of much research and discussion in education is technology. In particular, the focus has been on how technology can benefit student learning and increase educational outcomes. The established College Technology program aims to develop the 21st Century learning skills of our students by; enhancing their collaborative and creative problem solving skills, improving their ability to access information and to critically assess the quality of that information as well as to encourage students to develop practical uses for the knowledge available to them.

Q: Who is affected by the technology program?

A: All students in Years Seven to Twelve are involved in the program.

• Year Seven and Eight students are a part of the College i-pad program

• Years Nine to Twelve students are a part of the College Technology program

Q: Where should I buy a device?

A: The College does not specify or recommend a particular shop or provider. An external purchase complying with the College’s recommended specifications can be made at any number of local retailers who can supply devices including Apple stores, Officeworks, Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi, and the Good Guys.

“Learners in the internet age don’t need more information. They need to know how to efficiently use the massive amount of information available at their fingertips – to determine what’s credible, what’s relevant, and when it’s useful to reference.” - Anna Sabramowicz

TEACHING AND LEARNING Q: How will the devices be used in class?

A: The over-arching objective for the program is to transfer the ownership of learning to students by providing them with the opportunity to collaborate, communicate and research on a global level in real time. Currently our teachers deliver various teaching styles which range from setting specific online tasks to giving open-ended tasks where students are expected to find the solution however they can. With the use of technology this becomes more fluid and prevalent. The two primary portals used by the College to deliver content to students in classes are both web-based. All students are given access to our Learning Management System Canvas as well as a Google Drive account for collaboration, content storage and email management.

Q: What effect will the program have on textbooks?

A: The College has implemented eBooks in various subjects across all year groups. At the same time we issue physical textbooks. The benefit of using an eBook is a reduction in weight for student bags as well as the ability to use any interactive content while still being able to use paper textbooks for homework.


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Q: What effect will the program have on exercise books?

A: The College uses a blended learning environment meaning that a range of learning activities will be used. Depending on the type of activity, exercise books will be used; however, the device will be an integral part of most lessons. The teacher will decide on the best tool to use and will clearly communicate this to the students. The College will not remove the use of handwriting in class as this is still an essential skill, however, classwork and homework/assessments may include both elements of digital and handwritten content.

YEAR SEVEN AND EIGHT IPAD PROGRAM Q: What device do Year Seven and Eight students require?

A: Each student is required to have their own iPad for use at school each day. The iPads will be used to access specific applications which will supplement the classroom teaching and to use the power of the internet to enhance learning. Students will have the World Wide Web at their fingertips so that they can research and develop independent and collaborative learning skills. Students will also be able to access electronic copies of their text books for many of their subjects, thus alleviating the need for students to carry heavy books backwards and forwards to school. Using the electronic texts will also provide students with the opportunity to make annotations and highlight text as they work in class, thus promoting good scholarship practice and setting them up with a structure to formulate effective study notes. Students will also be able to easily engage with technology based assessments which may include making films, podcasts or multi-media presentations.

All students at the College have access to a Google Drive account. This includes access to document creation, storage, Google apps and email. Google provides a stable platform with many Web 2.0 tools that will allow, amongst other things, sharing and collaboration both in the classroom and beyond and a reliable method of cloud based storage for students’ work. These tools will complement our existing online learning management system Canvas. Both are accessible through the RHAC dashboard: https://dashboard.rhac.nsw.edu.au/

Q: Do we need an iTunes account?

A: Yes. Each Year Seven and Eight student will be required to have an iTunes account associated with their iPad, which will be used to download the required Apps. We encourage parents to discuss the setup of this account and the responsibility required with their children. iTunes accounts require a credit card to be stored on file and therefore we suggest that parents should administer the account on the student’s behalf, with their own secure password. Any required downloads through iTunes will be notified in advance, so that downloads can be managed by parents at home of an evening. This gives parents control of the types of learning apps students are able to access and prevents students downloading games. A list of apps to preload is attached to this document. From time to time, various stores offer discounted iTunes cards. We recommend this as an economical way to purchase credit for those App Downloads which are not provided free of charge. Any App which will incur fees has been carefully assessed by the College and have been kept to a minimum.

Q: Will there be specific software or apps which must be purchased and/or down loaded for free?

A: Yes. A list of apps required is included in the appendix section at the end of this document.

https://dashboard.rhac.nsw.edu.au/


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Q: Do I need to purchase a new iPad?

A: It is not an expectation that a new iPad be purchased, as we understand that many families will already own these devices. The device used will need to meet the minimum requirements as specified below. There are many places that iPads can be sourced and we highly recommend that families shop around, both online and in-store, to determine the best possible deal available for them. In some stores and online you can request an educational discount.

Q: What type of IPad is suitable?

A: The details of which iPads are suitable can be found below. Please note that the iPad mini is not a suitable device due to problems using this device in some online testing environments.

Specifications Recommended Adequate Size 32GB or greater 16GB

iPad Type iPad Air (2019) iPad Air (2013)

Connectivity Wi-Fi* Wi-Fi*

Sound Apple ear pods with microphone Generic earphones

Power Portable battery charger Portable battery charger

Keyboard External keyboard External keyboard

Cover Protective case Protective case

Identification Engraved identification Clearly Labelled

Screen Screen protector No screen protector

Operating System Latest operating system Latest operating system

Cloud Storage System Required Required

iTunes Account Set Up** Set Up**

iPad Serial Number Recorded at home Recorded at home

Please note that we have updated this to remove the ‘iPad mini’ due to problems using this device for some online testing environments from 2019 onwards.

* Students connect to the College network using Wi-Fi. Cellular connectivity may benefit some families from home but will not be used at the College by students. **We recommend that iTunes accounts should be set up and managed by parents only. #Most older iPads will work effectively at the College should you already own an iPad device however iPads must be able to run iOS11 (or later) to ensure ongoing compatibility with apps.


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YEAR NINE TO TWELVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM Q: What types of device should students in Year Nine – Twelve have?

A: Students are expected to continue to bring their iPad, or upgrade to a laptop or other tablet device, for school each day. The devices will supplement the classroom teaching and use the power of the internet to enhance learning. Students will have access to the World Wide Web, the College Learning Management System “Canvas” and cloud based storage through Google Drive. These tools allow teachers to assist students in developing independent, creative and collaborative learning skills. Students can also access electronic copies of their text books for many of their subjects, thus alleviating the need for students to carry heavy books to school. Using the electronic texts will also provide students with the opportunity to make annotations and highlight text as they work in class. Students will also be able to easily engage with technology based assessments and can collaborate in groups on tasks. Students have already developed some of these skills through their time in early high school with iPads.

There is a wide array of devices that meet the specification requirements for students in Years Nine - Twelve. Some people may prefer to purchase a device tailored to their own needs and likes. Others may already own a device that complies with the College’s specifications.

Q: What are the College recommendations?

A: It is difficult to outline minimum specifications in a broad Bring your Own Device policy as the needs of students will change depending on subject choices and personal preferences. Those who are upgrading from an iPad device should consider their possible needs for the future and are encouraged to speak with subject coordinators and teachers about the types of devices students use in their elective subjects in senior College years.

Rouse Hill Anglican College does not promote one vendor or device type and most families appreciate this flexibility. Devices that students have reported as suiting their needs at the College include the; Apple MacBook, Microsoft surface, Chromebooks and HP/Dell i-5 or i-7 notebooks.

To assist College families the College has negotiated with vendors for two specific devices that meet College requirements and can be purchased online and delivered to the College for you to collect. It is an option and not a requirement to use this service. Please review the website for further details: www.rhac.nsw.edu.au

Q: What software should my child install?

A: The majority of the learning that occurs in classrooms in Year Nine - Twelve requires students to be able to access the internet through the College network. These learning tools are ‘cloud’ based and therefore require only an internet browser and connectivity; they do not require students to install software and there is no cost. The two primary ways students access and create content is using “Google Docs” and our Learning management System “Canvas” while they save content using “Google Drive”. Devices that utilise apps may require free software to be downloaded in order to access these services however most modern devices access these services through an internet browser.

The College utilises email printing which requires students to use their school web based email address to print items. The printed material must be sent as a PDF and so we recommend students install a PDF program such as Adobe Acrobat if they wish to print at school using their device. Textbooks that are available as digital content are also accessed as PDF versions.

http://www.rhac.nsw.edu.au/


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Much of students’ work undertaken using their devices will include word processing, data analysis, presentation design and viewing and desktop publishing. Every student’s Google account includes a suite of applications that can handle these tasks. As such it is not necessary to buy productivity software such as Microsoft Office for your child’s Mac or PC and this remains as an option of your choice.

GENERAL QUESTIONS

Q: Should my child download songs, games, movies and other media on their device?

A: While connected at College, students should be browsing the internet and downloading resources for educational purposes only. All access to Internet resources, email, copyright, etc on Technology devices is governed by the College ICT Acceptable Use policy. Generally, the downloading of songs etc. would be in contrast to the above guidelines, and the College ICT Acceptable Use Policy.

At home, parents will need to govern this type of activity as they see fit. The College recommends that devices are kept free from potentially distracting material such as games and, songs and movies.

Q: What are the minimum requirements?

A: We have included a set of minimum requirements and functionality below. We have also outlined recommended specifications to help parents choose the most suitable device. In most cases, if you purchase a new personal laptop computer it will meet these specifications.

Specifications Recommended Adequate Screen Size 13” or greater 10” (i-pad size)

Connectivity Wi-Fi to access College Network 802.11 G or N

Wi-Fi to access College Network 802.11 G or N

Sound Earphones and device microphone Generic earphones

Power Portable battery charger Long Battery life for school day

Battery powered

Keyboard External Physical keyboard External Physical keyboard

Cover Protective case/bag Protective case/bag

Identification Engraved identification Clearly Labelled

Operating System OSX, Windows, Chrome Latest operating system (E.g.: iOS and Android)

Web Browser Chrome latest version Updated latest device version

Antivirus software Yes Yes

Free software Adobe PDF PDF software

Q: Should I buy insurance?

A: The security of the device rests with the individual student; as such Rouse Hill Anglican College takes no responsibility for stolen, lost, or damaged devices. While College employees will help students to identify how to keep their devices secure, students will have the final responsibility for securing their devices. You may wish to check your homeowner’s insurance policy regarding coverage of personal electronic devices, as many of these policies can cover loss or damage.


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Q: I have an old laptop at home; can I give this to my child to use?

A: Students do not need to have a brand new computer to use at the College although things such as battery life can be an issue with older machines. We recommend that the device your child brings to College is as new as possible. Any device must meet our minimum requirements and be as functional and reliable as possible.

Q: What happens if my child’s device malfunctions or is broken?

A: The College IT staff will provide technical support related to the connection to the College wireless network and Internet. This will take place initially during the Connection Day as well as ongoing throughout term time.

For hardware issues, you will need to contact a computer Technical Support service or the company where you bought the device. Unfortunately, the College IT staff cannot attempt to repair personal devices, as this could invalidate warranties.

Students who have a temporary issue with their device are able to borrow a College laptop for the day from the College library and should do so at the start of the day. This service is provided for the day only and is a short term solution for students experiencing temporary issues with their own personal device.

CONNECTIONS Q: Will the College provide WIFI 24/7?

A: The College will provide wireless internet connection to students while on the premises during business hours.

Q: Will there be web-filtering?

A: When students are on College premises and connected to the internet through the College’s WIFI network, web-filtering will be engaged. Whilst no web-filtering solution is perfect, the College will do its best to prevent access to inappropriate websites detected to contain age-restricted material, potentially harmful material or illegal content. In addition, Facebook and other social media sites not deemed to be of educational value, will be blocked whilst on site. When your child is connected to the internet at home, employing web-filtering will be a decision for parents to make. A suggested solution to help set internet boundaries at home can be found at http://www.kidsblocker.com

Q: Will my child be able to use mobile connections instead of the College WIFI network?

A: Students must only use the College’s WIFI service to connect to the internet whilst on College premises and must not use 4G/5G for their device. 4G/5G connections can become very costly and are not subject to web-filtering. If purchasing a new device, it is our strong recommendation that no mobile web enabled devices are purchased.


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DAY TO DAY USE AND SUPPORT Q: What do we do about printing?

A: Students will be able to print directly from their Personal learning device in some cases. Students may also use the College computers to do their printing using their normal College login details. Instructions regarding printing are available on the College Wiki.

Q: Will there be means of charging the device at College?

A: Personal devices must be fully charged before school each day and run on battery power while at school. We strongly recommend you purchase a device which has a substantial battery life so that it lasts the full school day, however, there is a charging station available in the College Library for students to top up their devices if needed during breaks.

The Technology Program is an exciting opportunity for Rouse Hill Anglican College students to commence their Senior School studies in a way that will enhance and build skills for the future. Should you have any questions about the program, please contact the Director of Teaching and Learning who will assist you with your enquiry.


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YEAR SEVEN AND EIGHT APP REQUIREMENTS There are a range of applications (apps) that are used frequently at Rouse Hill Anglican College in Year Seven and Eight. To make the teaching and learning effective within classrooms we ask all students to preload the following apps on to their iPad device before they commence classes. Most apps are free or at minimal cost. Where apps cost money we have been careful to ensure these are essential apps that teachers use frequently and/or that play an important role in class tasks and formal assessment. We ask parents to be aware that other apps may be requested from time to time as new teaching tools become available. The College will notify students in advance of any need to download additional apps so that parents can monitor and manage this process from home and have control over the account.

Common

iMovie Free

Apple Pty Limited

Find My Phone Free

Apple Pty Limited

Prezi Free

Prezi Inc.

gloBible Free

Information Humanities Inc

Dictionary.com Free

Dictionary.com, LLC

Calculator# Free

Incpt.Mobis

Google Chrome Free

Google Inc.

Google Docs Free

Google Inc.

Google Drive Free

Google Inc.

Adobe Reader Free

Adobe

Canvas Free

Instructure Inc.

Google Slides Free

Google Inc.

Clickview

Free Clickview pty ltd.

Google Maps Free

Google, Inc.

Google Earth Free

Google, Inc.

HSIE

National Geographic Magazine

Free National

Geographic Society

Weebly Free

Weebly, Inc.

Inspiration Maps VPP Free

Inspiration Software

PDHPE

Aurasma Free

Aurasma

Calorie Counter & Diet Tracker

Free My Fitnesspal


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Science

Puffin Web Browser

Free CloudMosa, Inc

Science Dictionary Free

Farlex, Inc.

Glogster Posters Free

Glogster

Animoto

Free Animoto Inc.

QR Reader for iPad Free

TapMedia Ltd

Technology

Pop Art Lite Free

Adam Freeman

Pinterest Free

Pinterest, Inc.

Notability 14.99*

Ginger Labs, Inc.

Pixlr Free

Autodesk Inc.

Procreate $14.99*

Savage Interactive Pty Ltd

Creative and Performing Arts

Mega Photo Free

Paul Falstad

Garage Band Free

Apple Pty Limited

Sketch Club $4.49*

Blackpawn.com

Adobe Photoshop Mix Free

Adobe

MSO Learn Free

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

Loopey HD $5.99*

A Tasty Pixel

Mathematics

Mathspace Free

Mathspace Pty Ltd.

Geogebra Free

Internationales GeoGebra Institut

Graphing Calculator by

Desmos Free

Desmos

Languages

Language Perfect Free

Language perfect

Japanese-Hiragana Free

German 24/7 Free

24/7 Tutor Inc.

*App prices are correct at the time of publication. Prices vary on the iTunes store with sales. Some apps may go down in price, become free, be free for new iPad users, or increase slightly in price. Some iTunes card retailers have sales which

will reduce the price.

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