Bring your own device BYOD

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program is being implemented across many DEC schools. The BYOD program recognises that technology and choices about technology, are very much personal and acknowledges technology in education means more than meeting specific curriculum requirements. BYOD is designed to give freedom to make technology choices that suit you and all your circumstances. There are a significant range of devices on the market that will meet a range of budgets and purposes.

There are specifications that need to be met in order to make the devices useful in the classroom, e.g. for a device to have access to the school's network there is a minimum standard for device connectivity.

Hardware Specifications

Form Factor
Laptop, tablet device or convertible device. A tablet device should also have a physical keyboard attachment, for ease of use over long periods of time.
Physical Dimensions
  • Minimum Screen Size: 12"
  • Maximum Screen Size: 15"
Operating System
  • Microsoft Windows 10 or newer
  • Apple MacOS12 (Monterey) or newer
  • Apple iOS or iPadOS 15 or newer
Wireless Compatibility
Device must have 5GHz 802.11n support. The DoE wireless network installed in high schools only operates on the 802.11n 5GHz standard. Devices with 802.11a/b/g or 802.11n 2.4GHz only will not be able to connect. Ask this question before you buy a device for BYOD - “The NSW Department of Education has a 5GHz (n) wireless network. Does this device support 5GHz Wireless N?” Do not purchase a device for BYOD unless the answer is “Yes”
Battery Life
Advertised battery life of at least 10 hours.
background
light

Please take special note of the Wireless Compatibility requirements. This is the most difficult requirement to verify yourself for Windows laptops.

Additional Considerations

The following are not requirements of the BYOD program, but are considerations which should ensure that your device continues to work well for at least 3 years:

  • Maximum weight: 2kg
  • Minimum RAM (laptops): 8GB (recommended 16GB)
  • Solid State Disk (SSD): 256GB
  • Protective cover / sleeve
  • Accidental loss and breakage insurance

Software Specifications

All students will need to perform the following tasks on the device and therefore have relevant software for each task. Please read 2 important points below, before purchasing expensive software.

  • Google Apps provides the ability to create and store documents, presentations and spread sheets for free. This works ‘in the cloud’ and work can be shared across a variety of devices and operating systems.
  • Office 365, Adobe Create Cloud and other application downloads are available for students on BYOD devices at home. These products are available at no cost to all DoE students under our enterprise agreement.

Additional Considerations

Anti-Virus Protection – AVG or Avast are free and work well. Windows 10 comes with an in-built antivirus (Windows Defender).

Note: Some anti-virus software with inbuilt VPNs or website filtering may cause issues connecting through the school’s network

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is my email address?

All students have a NSW Department of Education email address which is your student login followed by @education.nsw.gov.au (e.g. firstname.surname@education.nsw.gov.au).

How do I check my email?

Your NSW Department of Education student portal is found at https://student.det.nsw.edu.au This is where you go to access your email. You will also find lots of other resources through this site, such as access to the Google Classrooms and links to download and install software e.g. Microsoft 365 Subscription (which is free!).

How do I access Google Classroom?

You will eventually have a Google Classroom for each of your classes. This is where your teachers will put resources for you to use and allow you to collaborate with your peers and have online discussions.

You access Google Classroom through your NSW Department of Education student portal (where you check your email) - click on the Learningtab, and then click on Google Apps. You will need to enter an individual code for each class the first time to join the classroom - this will be provided by your teacher.

How can I contact my teachers or check my homework?

This is done through the Sentral Student Portal

You should check this regularly, as you will find school bulletins, access to your timetable as well as homework and messages from your teachers. Your parents can also log in here and see information about your attendance!

Have a question for our principal or teachers?

Our friendly office team can help you get in touch.

Contact us

background
dark

Learning

Find out about our approach to learning and supporting students to progress.

Travel to school

Learn about local transport options and how to get here safely.