In order to ensure that our MYP and DP students are adequately equipped for their studies for the upcoming coming 2025-26 school year, we would like to remind our families and students about important information regarding technology use and device requirements for the Middle and High School here at CIS.

Our recent experiences with Remote Learning (RL) has highlighted how valuable and important technology integration is in education. In addition to enabling us to provide a quality academic program during emergency periods, we have also seen the benefits of engaging with new and exciting software, and students being able to innovate and create in different ways, as well as communicate and share ideas more effectively to larger and more diverse audiences. These experiences align with best practices for technology integration in education, and ensure our students are well prepared for entering the digital world we live in following graduation.

To ensure the continuing success of our program, CIS requires all Grade 5-12 students to bring their own device for use each day. This is known as a one-to-one bring-your-own-device (BYOD) program. The actual device you choose is up to you, it just has to reach the minimum specifications as outlined below. Most students choose either a Mac or PC laptop or a Chromebook, but a tablet with a separate keyboard is also acceptable but not recommended. A smart phone is not considered as an acceptable alternative to a laptop for learning platforms like ManageBac and Google Workspace. CIS has a limited number of Chromebooks that students can check out daily for emergency use in school if their device is not working. We do not have enough devices for consistent use, however, so it is important for students to start the year with their device. This will also enable them to set up their classes and be oriented by their teachers for each subject from the start of the school year.

Here are the minimum specifications required to enable the device to integrate with our wifi and servers, and enable an acceptable level of use in classrooms. If you have any questions about the specs, please email Mr. del Rosario (IT Support Manager) at gdelrosario@cis.edu.ph.

Minimum Specifications: The specifications listed below are selected to enable a device that can last the student for the next 3-4 years.

Hardware:

Software (provided and required):

●  CIS is a Google Workspace school, so students have free access to Google: Drive, Classroom, Sheets, Docs and Mail (Students receive an official CIS education email via Gmail from grade 2 and up).
●  Microsoft Office Student Edition is available on the school network for free (includes MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint).
●  Adobe PDF Reader (or similar quality PDF reader) is required on PC devices (Macs come with their own PDF program)
●  Other applications and software required by the school are either provided by the school, or are free open-source software which the student can download and install for free. Teachers will advise before the start of a unit if such software is needed.
●  Please note that the CIS Acceptable User Agreement requires students use only legal copies of software on their devices.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any further questions.