BYOD

At Pulteney, we believe parents should have the choice to explore what works best for their child. Choosing the best device for your child, their learning style and for your family lifestyle is important. When you are deciding, look beyond the brand or what is popular. Here are three considerations to think about before deciding.

What device do you, as parents, have experience in using and managing?
After all, you will need to assist your child with connecting their device to your home environment (e.g. WiFi, printing, media sharing, filters and monitoring). We recommend you keep this in mind when purchasing a device for your child.

Which device is best for a child’s learning? Furthermore, what type of interface should you consider? Pen? Keyboard? Voice? Touch?

The era of digital ink has seen the power of the PC and the pen come together successfully on the Windows platform. Apple too have recently released digital ink capable devices and both these offerings allow students to write and draw directly onto their device, take handwritten notes, draw conceptual diagrams or annotate on top of documents, presentations and other learning resources. It has allowed more fluidity in their learning when trying to draw equations in Maths and Science which is far easier to capture with a stylus and digital ink, than it is to punch it into a keyboard. Touch and pen enabled devices now work the way we want naturally. We already have several teachers using digital ink in their teaching; preparing learning material and providing feedback to their students or to assess their work.

In addition to traditional keyboard and mouse, there are several devices on the market that are both touch and pen enabled which offer students that extra modality for capturing their learning and enhancing their creativity.

It’s worth trying them out at a retail shop to see what feels comfortable for you and your child.

Important Notes

• Google Chromebooks will not work on our network.
  Only Windows and Mac devices are supported.

• Gaming laptops are not recommended due to extremely limited battery life.
  As charging is not permitted on school premises, these devices will not last the full day.
  A minimum of 10 hours battery life is required.

Hardware Requirements

• Processor:

  • Intel Ultra 5 or higher

  • AMD Ryzen AI 7 or AMD Ryzen AI 9

  • Apple M3, M4, or M5

• Important: We do not recommend laptops with Qualcomm Snapdragon processors due to software compatibility issues.

• Storage: Minimum 512GB SSD

• Memory: Minimum 16GB RAM
  (8GB will result in a limited lifespan and performance issues)

• Battery Life: 10+ hours rated battery life

Software Requirements

• macOS: Apple macOS Sequoia or Tahoe

• Windows: Windows 11
  (Ensure this is not the Windows S edition – this version will not work correctly and is often found on cheaper Windows devices.)

Additional Considerations

• Warranty:

  • Aim for a minimum of 3 years of coverage

• Servicing:

  • Basic warranty turnaround is approximately 2 months

  • Onsite warranty is faster

  • Onsite repair or replacement is ideal

• Specifications:

  • These have been set to ensure a problem-free 3 years of usage

• Insurance:

  • Consider Accidental Damage, Theft, and Loss cover

  • Check your home and contents policy

  • Insurance can typically be added in-store or via online tier 1 retailers

• Protection:

  • A carry bag or case is strongly recommended

All device specifications are reviewed annually in October to ensure continued relevance and suitability.

Where to purchase?

Leader

To support families in sourcing suitable devices for our BYOD program, we are pleased to recommend Leader, a reputable supplier and trusted provider within the Pulteney community. Leader offers a range of high-quality devices that meet the requirements of our program, ensuring a reliable and seamless experience for students.

If you are interested in purchasing a device from Leader, you can browse their range through the following portal: New Portal Link Coming Soon 

PIN: 49152

Leader’s connection to the Pulteney community makes them a convenient and reliable choice for our families. Should you have any questions or need assistance, their team is happy to help guide you through the process.

Parents can purchase both Windows and Apple devices from any retailer they prefer. We highly recommend taking the specifications above and speaking with the sales staff to ensure the device meets the minimum specification. If you have any questions or would like advise on a specific model, please contact eServices on (08) 8216 5558 or by emailing us at support@pulteney.sa.edu.au

When purchasing a device for your child, you may wish to consider a 3-year warranty or period of cover to safeguard your investment. Most retailers offer competitive deals/bundles when incorporating this into a device before payment.

Please note that student devices are not covered by the school for damage, loss or theft. It is recommended that parents explore what their Home & Contents Insurance covers and if insurance is required, parents can select an insurance option when purchasing a device from most retailers.