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Glenfield CollegeGlenfield College
  • ABOUT US
    • Principal’s Welcome
    • Board & Policies
    • Our Staff
    • Prospectus
    • School Strategy
      • Strategic Plan
      • Annual Implementation Plan
    • Attendance Management Plan
    • School Expectations
    • Job Vacancies
    • Alumni
    • Our School in Action
    • House Competition
    • Photo Galleries
    • Newsletters
  • CURRICULUM
    • English
    • Health and Physical Education
    • Mathematics
    • Performing Arts
    • Science
    • Services Academy
    • Social Sciences
    • Technology
    • Te Reo Mâori
    • Visual Art
    • Course Directory
    • Senior Assessment Frameworks
    • Junior Curriculum
    • Support Programmes
  • INFORMATION
    • Parents
      • Bell Times
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      • Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
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      • Absentees & Sickbay
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      • Student Careers Support
      • Student Launch Page
      • Student Wellbeing Centre
  • ENROLMENT
    • How To Enrol for 2026
    • How To Enrol for 2027
    • Starting at GC
  • PARENT PORTAL
  • CO-CURRICULAR
    • Outdoor Education
    • School Groups & Performing Arts
    • Sports
      • Sports Fixtures
      • Sports Available to Students
      • Sports Prospectus
      • Sign Up for a Sport
      • Policies and Procedures
        • Code of Conduct
        • Fees and Participation
        • Selection process
      • Coaching & Volunteers
      • Physiotherapy
  • INTERNATIONAL
    • About Glenfield College
    • Our Location
    • Emergency Contact
    • Studying in New Zealand
    • Studying at Glenfield College
    • Course Directory
    • Homestay
    • Fees and Costs
    • Application Procedure
  • PRIVACY
  • CONTACT
    • All Contacts
    • Gymnasium Hire
    • Theatre Hire

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

Home ParentsBring Your Own Device (BYOD)

Since starting our BYOD program in 2022, all students must have a suitable device, such as a Chromebook or laptop, to use in class.  Class activities often involve using Chromebooks/Laptops to keep notes, collaborate with others and access online resources.   Chromebook/Laptop devices and ICT are now the pens and paper of our children’s world.

Per Glenfield College’s Strategic Plan 2020 and beyond, all students are expected to bring their own devices to utilise as part of their learning programme.  We will operate in a blended learning environment where a computing device is just one of many daily tools students will use for learning.  While online and digital education is essential, Glenfield College students will learn through paper-based books and resources, handwritten tasks, group discussions, hands-on practical tasks and physical activities.

We can support multiple devices, Mac and PC; however, a Chromebook is expected to be the most effective device in years 9 to 10.  From year 11 onwards, it depends on the subjects the student is taking.  Please note that no further software purchases will be needed, as students will use open-source tools.  It is essential that the device is fit for purpose and meets the minimum specifications, as outdated, poor-quality or shared devices will make it difficult for students to have a practical learning experience.  As the student progresses through the school, a laptop/notebook is the most effective device, especially at the senior level, where students may opt for subjects requiring more specific software.  The staff will be able to advise on this when the time comes.

What device should we consider?

Minimum Recommended Specifications

The essential requirements are that it should:

    • Be able to connect to wireless networks and use the Google Chrome browser.
    • Have a processing capacity that enables the creation and manipulation of text and data.
    • Have a minimum screen size of 10 inches (13-14 inches is preferable).
    • Have a battery life of at least 5 hours (please note that some laptops fall significantly short of this). We do not provide charging facilities at school, but extra batteries can help mitigate this issue.
    • Lightweight, portable and durable.
    • Have anti-virus software – this is essential to protect the device’s data and prevent the spread of malware.
    • Have a protective case.

 

Please note that we will assist them in connecting to the school’s WiFi network as needed.  Beyond that, students must take responsibility for their own devices for problem-solving and troubleshooting.

Software

Students can achieve much of what they need to do using open-source tools and Google Workspace.  For this reason, the device requires an up-to-date operating system and a modern browser.

Glenfield College uses Chrome for the browser and Windows 11, MacOS, ChromeOS or ZorinOS Education for the Operating System.  If a Windows device does not support Windows 11 or the MacOS version is dated,  please use ZorinOS or another Linux variant.

 

Accessories

Students will need suitable headphones and a solid protective case for their Chromebook/Laptop/Notebook.

Advantages of Student-Owned Mobile Devices

There are many advantages to students bringing their own devices to school.  More obviously, students are able to connect with an unlimited selection of resources.  Other advantages include:

    • Quick research.
    • Collaboration of work with other students as well as the ability for staff to provide feedback.
    • Photo and video recording of experiments, speeches, field trips and assignments.
    • Access to online learning resources such as Reading Plus and Education Perfect.
    • Multimedia presentation of work.

Teacher Professional Development

Despite what students may say, they are not automatic experts in technology.  We need to help them utilise technology to facilitate their learning.  Our teaching staff are constantly engaged in training sessions on how they can use technology to enhance teaching and learning at Glenfield College.

School Infrastructure

At Glenfield College, we have a modern, high-quality information technology infrastructure.  We regularly upgrade our equipment to provide fast and reliable WiFi in every classroom.

The most recent major upgrade, in December 2023, has been a 100% replacement of all network infrastructure, including switches and WiFi points.

Google Workspace for Education

Google Workspace for Education is the preferred platform at Glenfield College. It is a set of education productivity tools from Google, including Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Classroom, and more, used by tens of millions of students and teachers worldwide. At Glenfield College, students will use their Google Workspace for Education accounts to complete assignments, communicate with their teachers, sign into their Chromebooks, and learn 21st-century digital citizenship skills. This allows us to share information within the college and beyond. Google Workspace for Education is a cloud-based platform that enables users to create and share documents online, making information accessible from school and home, as long as an internet connection is available. It is free for schools and does not contain any advertising. Many New Zealand schools utilise Google Workspace for Education, including some of our feeder Intermediate schools and numerous universities worldwide.

A copy of the Google Agreement for Caregivers is here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vUlsD_HcltRebSSVOwoQdfE_pRbQtim9eL1OXYvRC-w

What Does This Mean for the Students?

    • Students will be provided with a school Google email account with a personalised password.
    • Students will be able to collaborate on documents with other students and staff.
    • Students will be expected to be responsible digital citizens, and their work and communication through the Google platform will be trackable.
    • When students leave Glenfield College, their Google accounts will be deleted.

Open Source Applications

A variety of Open Source tools are used at Glenfield College.  Regardless of their monetary situation, students can use the same applications at home or on capable BYOD devices as we use at Glenfield College.

What Does This Mean for the Students?

    • All students have access to the same tools.
    • All students will be able to collaborate using these tools.

Is There an Easy-to-Use Installer?

    • Yes, we use Ninite; it will install the software for you on Windows devices.
    • Ninite will check for updates and update your software each time it is run.
School Software Updater and Installer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a smartphone a suitable device?
A Smartphone is not suitable as the primary device for learning.  From 2024, Smartphones will be banned devices at Glenfield College.
Will students be spending all their time on a device?
A device is just one aspect of classroom activities.  They will be used as part of the mix that makes up good teaching and learning.
Will the students share devices with others in the class?
No.  It is their device and students are not permitted to share.  This is for their protection.
How will Glenfield College ensure that cyberbullying is not occurring?
The College’s WiFi will block access to certain websites, and all students will sign an ICT User Agreement when they enrol at the College. Any cyber-bullying will be dealt with under the College’s anti-bullying policies.
What happens if my child’s device breaks or fails?
The device is the responsibility of the student and should be treated with care at all times.  Should it break or fail, consider the value of the warranty when you purchase a device.  The Consumer Guarantees Act ensures that devices should be fault free for a “reasonable” period of time.  It is also worth considering whether the device is covered by your home contents insurance.
Do I need to get Microsoft Office installed on my child’s device?
No.  Students will use Google Workspace for Education, which is free and includes many tools, including email, word processing, spreadsheets and the ability to create presentations.

However, although it is not required or compatible with all devices, students are also freely provided with access to the desktop version of Office 365 and can log in with their student email account here: https://portal.office.com/

Only on compatible devices will an “Install Office” button appear towards the upper right area of the page.  The first option, Office 365 Apps, is the one you seek.

The LibreOffice suite is recommended for devices incompatible with the Office 365 desktop suite: https://www.libreoffice.org/

LibreOffice is installed on all teacher laptops, student lab machines and all school-owned student laptops.

Other Information

If you want more information on general online issues, we recommend you visit the Netsafe parenting pages:   (https://www.netsafe.org.nz/advice/parenting/).

We have partnered with Noel Leeming, and they have several offers for Glenfield College families:
Noel Leeming BYOD

Noel Leeming‬ Chromebooks

Fliers:
Noel Leeming Chromebook Flier
Noel Leeming Microsoft Flier

Their guides for parents can be found at:
Which Device Guide‬

‬‭Advice videos‬

PBTech‬ ‭also offer Chromebooks with a discount for Glenfield College students: Use code‬‭ BYODGC ‬‭for a discount.‬

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