Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
At Koo Wee Rup Secondary College, we have a BYOD (bring your own device) program. This means that all students are required to bring their own laptop, meeting minimum requirements below.
There are many benefits to allowing students to bring their own device to school such as:
- Subject specific capabilities e.g. movie making programs for Media students
- Increased digital literacy
- Broad range of word processing program options
- Connecting learning between school and home
- Increased student engagement
- Allows students ownership of their own learning
- Peer collaboration
Technology plays a key role in education and future careers. BYOD helps students build the digital skills they need for life beyond school.
Purchasing Options
Families have two options when sourcing a device:
- Purchase Your Own Device
You may purchase a laptop from any retailer or use an existing device, provided it meets the minimum specifications listed below. - Edunet Portal (Optional)
Families may choose to purchase through education suppliers such as Edunet. These suppliers offer devices designed for school use, along with optional warranties and support services.
Please note: The College does not require families to purchase from any specific supplier.
Minimum Device Requirements
To ensure compatibility with school systems and learning programs, devices must meet the following:
- Operating System
- Windows 11
- macOS 12 (Monterey) or later
- Hardware
- Minimum 8GB RAM (16GB recommended for Media subjects)
- Minimum 128GB storage (256GB recommended for Media subjects)
- Battery life that lasts a full school day
- Important Notes
- Chromebooks, iPads, Android tablets and Linux-based devices are not supported.
- MacBooks are recommended primarily for students undertaking creative subjects such as digital media or music.
Software
There is no need to purchase additional software for school.
All students receive access to Microsoft 365. This includes Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excell, Outlook, OneNote, Teams and 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage.
In addition, students have access to many Adobe Creative Cloud applications using their provided student account.
These applications can be installed on student devices and accessed at home.
Prepare Your Device for School
Before the first day, please ensure the device is set up and ready:
- Set up the laptop using a personal account (not a parent’s account)
- Complete initial setup at home (Wi-Fi, updates, login)
Guides for the initial setup can be found here:
How to Set Up and Customize Your New Computer | Microsoft Windows
How to Set Up and Customize Your New Computer | Microsoft Windows
Students will be guided at school to log in to their school account and access Microsoft 365.
Disable S Mode
If your Windows device is in S Mode you will need to disable it to install applications such as NAPLAN. Instructions found here: Switching out of S mode in Windows – Microsoft Support
Loss of Device and Theft or Damage
Students have and will always be strongly advised to have a strong lock on their locker, and to not let anyone else share their locker or know their combination.
If a device is damaged in any way, the College technicians will be happy to provide advice on how to fix it, or where to take your computer to be fixed.
At Koo Wee Rup Secondary College we recommend you insure your device, this can be through Edunet when purchasing your BYOD, your home insurance or a standalone policy.
A hard cover case and screen protector is highly recommended to avoid any incidental damage.
Student devices are their own, and as such they are their responsibility. The College takes no responsibility for device harm, theft or loss.
Parental Controls
While parental controls can be a valuable tool at home, they may unintentionally block websites or software needed for schoolwork — this is particularly common for secondary students. We encourage you to review these settings before your child brings their device to school. If you need a hand, our ICT team is always happy to help.
As a reminder, all student computers that are connected to the school’s internet are filtered and monitored through the Department of Education (Victoria)’s secure network.
Support
The College ICT team provides support for:
- Connecting to the school Wi-Fi network
- Access to Microsoft 365 and school systems
- Any troubleshooting and diagnosing faults
Support for hardware or non-school software may be limited. For repairs, families may need to contact their device supplier.
If you have any questions about device suitability, please contact the College ICT team:
PH: 03 5997 1444
