As your child progresses through college, they will need their devices for different purposes. Some students find that they bring their device less to school in their senior years, while others need it more as they select specialist subjects such as Technology or Visual Arts.
Our experience is that few devices will last five years, so it may be better to think of two purchases during your child’s education at Glendowie College. The first purchase may last from years 9-11, and then the second is in year 12 and may see them beyond school into university or other tertiary studies.
We do not require specific brands or devices. Rather we recommend three different categories of digital devices, depending on your child's year level and subject choices.
All devices must have:
- a keyboard (not a touch-screen keyboard)
- 5G WiFi capability
- the ability to run Google Workspace
- a battery that lasts for the entire school day
Ideally, students devices should also have:
- a camera for photo and video capture
- a basic photo and video editor
- a touch screen with stylus to sketch, annotate and highlight files
- a screen size of at least 11”
Additionally, students doing specialist subjects at senior levels such as Digital Technologies, Design and Visual Communication, Media Studies and Visual Art Design & Photography may need a laptop with higher specifications to run specialist software, such as Adobe Creative Cloud.
NOTES:
- Cellphones and Tablets
Cellphones and basic tablets (e.g. below 11”) are NOT a suitable digital device for learning. They have many benefits such as a camera and internet access, but are not suitable for preparing essays or using applications such as Education Perfect in class. - Expert Advice
In order to make an informed decision, it is recommended that you discuss the options with an expert at the retailer of your choice. - Batteries and Charging Devices at School
Please note that students should not charge their devices at school. This is to avoid power cords in classrooms, which can be a safety hazard. - Storing Devices at School
The college provides a limited number of lockers for student use. Most students will need to carry their device with them all day. We recommend that you also consider the weight and durability of your device. Students also place their device on school desks that don’t have much space. Bigger devices are heavier to carry and are more likely to be knocked off desks.
Basic Devices:
These devices include Chromebooks and basic laptops that can cost as little as $400. Many students like these devices as they provide access to the web, are small and the battery life is usually very good.
They will support the vast majority of year 9 -10 courses, especially as more learning applications are web-based. These devices are less effective in the many courses in the senior school. The limitation of some devices (e.g. Chromebook, iPad Pro) is that students cannot install software (e.g. Adobe Photoshop) on these devices.
Midrange Devices:
These devices have higher specifications than Chromebooks and are more suited to many senior subjects offered at the college, including the software required to run digital examinations. These devices are usually better designed (e.g. have nicer screens, a bigger keyboard, etc) and students are able to install software on them. This would include devices with a minimum of 8GB RAM and dual to quad-core processors.
Many students like these because they have better specifications and students can personalise them. However, they are NOT suitable for some specialist courses.
Advanced Devices:
These devices include powerful laptops with higher specifications. These devices need to be capable of software installation and easily running software such as Adobe Creative Suite (which students can access for as little as $7 per annum). These devices would need to have the minimum specifications of an i7 processor, 16GB of RAM and a dedicated graphics card. While the school will endeavour to provide a limited number of advanced devices for student use at school, many students prefer to own these devices because they can store files and access specialist software outside of school.
Specialist subjects include Media Studies, Photography, Design & Visual Communications and most Digital Technologies courses.
