Technology and the use of digital tools are increasingly important across all areas of the curriculum. Students at North Sydney Boys will be required to bring a mobile computing device to school every day, except on a sport Wednesday.
The technology policy regarding BYOD for 2021 has been designed to give freedom for students and parents to make technology choices that suit your circumstances.
We recommend a range of devices, however students may bring any device that meets our device specifications and is able to work with the NSBHS wireless infrastructure.
The devices must have software to allow the students to fully participate in class activities. Though the school will be able to give students basic assistance, the device is still your own and it is the student's responsibility to keep it secure and functional.
Parents and students will be required to sign a user charter that sets out how the device can be used at school.
Bring your own device
Families may already own devices or may choose to purchase a mobile device.
Devices need to meet minimum specifications. If they do not meet the specifications below, devices will not function/or be suitable for our environment. Chromebooks and iOS devices are not able to complete all tasks a student will be engaged with.
Minimum specifications include:
- Microsoft Windows 10, Windows 11 or Apple macOS 10.10 (Yosemite) or above
- Laptop, tablet or convertible/hybrid device
- Tablet devices must have a physical hardware keyboard with A-Z and 0-9 keys that move when depressed.
- At least 6 hours battery life (students are not allowed to bring chargers to school)
- Screen size - 9.7" - 13.3" (inches)
- Wi-Fi with 5Ghz 802.11ac
It may also be important to consider the following when choosing a device. Additional considerations:
- Maximum weight - 2kg
- Minimum RAM - 4GB
- Storage - Solid state drive (SSD) at least 120GB in size
- Accidental loss and breakage insurance
- Additional warranty - devices purchased through retail outlets usually come with 1 year of warranty. Some vendors may offer extended warranty.
Keeping devices secure
Past experience has demonstrated that students are generally capable of keeping their devices secure. However there are many anti-virus software options available, such as Windows Defender, if this is a concern.
You are advised to consider insuring the device against loss or damage, particularly if it is of significant value since the school and the Department of Education does not accept liability for loss or damage to student devices.