Technology is a critical component in the contemporary learning environment. The promotion of twenty-first century skills and the advancement of twenty-first century learning is core to the educational values held at St Mary’s Catholic College.

The integration of ICT at St Mary’s Catholic College is a constantly evolving process. This is largely due to the rapidly changing nature of the technology landscape combined with the diverse requirements of education. For today's 21st Century student, technology is no longer an option, rather it is an essential tool that is regularly relied upon for school work set in class and at home. Unfortunately, this places a significant financial burden on many families. It is for this reason that St Mary’s Catholic College has established the “Technology Resource Program” (TRP) in an effort to provide a competitively priced package that will ensure our students have access to appropriate and efficient technology that is current and at a competitive price. 

A good quality computer is an investment in our children's education and our experience has shown that the best computer for the student environment needs to be well constructed, robust and reliable with a stable operating system and long battery life. It is also important to have the backup of a warranty period that will cover the expected life of the computer as well as an insurance policy (ADP) to cover the expense of repairs should the computer be accidentally damaged. All of these things go towards peace of mind and the assurance that our students have access to technology every time it is needed.

The college has negotiated a number of “packages” with two reputable companies in the education market, they are Hewlett Packard (HP) (Chromebook and Windows laptop) and CompNow (Apple Mac laptops). Each package includes the computer, 3 years extended warranty, 3 years Accidental Damage Protection (ADP) Insurance and a case for the Chromebooks (Case additional for Macs and Windows laptops). Both companies offer a choice of payment options to help families manage the expense. It is important to note that the cost involved may be more than the cost of a laptop commonly found in catalogues from the regular technology retailers in our area but these cheaper computers are usually not suitable for students and the physical nature of the mobile school environment. These computers may not be compatible with our network environment, they are often slower, larger, heavier, have shorter battery life and have the older technology mechanical hard drives which are more susceptible to crashing. They also do not include the extended warranty nor the ADP insurance and the College is unable to provide support in the event of something going wrong with the computer. It would be up to the family to contact suppliers for warranty and/or accidental damage repairs which can be inconvenient, time consuming and costly. It is for these reasons that we strongly recommend purchasing your computer through the College so that you can have the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your child is equipped with the latest specification technology, that will serve them well through their education, for the expected life of the computer and in the event that something goes wrong, quick and reliable support is immediately available through the College ICT support staff. 

For more details on the Technology Resource Program, see information provided on the about page. Please note the prices shown here are estimates at this time and are subject to change. If you would like to take advantage of our packages then you can follow the link above to order your computer through our partnered suppliers.

If you have any further questions or inquires please feel free to contact us via the College office.

The following specifications are the recommended minimum specs that a student device should have:

• Screen  -  11 inch

• Processor  -  Core i5

• RAM  -  8GB min (8GB preferable)

• Storage  -  64GB Solid State Drive (SSD)

• Battery Life  -  8 Hours minimum

• Operating System  -  Win / Mac OSX / Chrome OS

Rationale

The internet provides an opportunity to enhance students’ learning experiences by providing access to vast amounts of information across the globe. Online communication links students to provide a collaborative learning environment and is intended to assist with learning outcomes. Today’s students are exposed to online communication tools and the internet in their community. They have the right to expect secure access to these services as part of their learning experiences.

Below are links to the College documentation as it relates to the provision and use of technology at St Mary's Catholic College.

What computer will my child need?

The only mandated computer is the Chromebook for students starting in Year 7 and 8. This is to ensure the experience and proficiency in cloud computing is developed early and will mean students can function with any internet connected computer they may choose to use in the future. After Year Seven, students will continue with a Chromebook through Year 8 and then from Year 9 students can opt to use a higher specification Windows or Apple Mac laptop. Families are encouraged to purchase through the College ‘Technology Resource Program’ (TRP) which will take care of all your child’s technology needs. 

I have an iPad, Can I use that?

While the iPad is a popular and convenient device, we do not recommend families purchase the iPad to use at school at this time.  Primarily, this is because an iPad still has some compatibility issues with a number of websites, multimedia resources and when used with the Google Apps for education suite often requires involved workflows. Over the last couple of years these issues have improved and we are constantly evaluating the iPad’s suitability in the future for our College. However, at this time we do not cater for the iPad and do not promote the iPad for our students to buy, although a number of students have been using an iPad in place of a laptop computer as a convenience when their regular computer is being repaired, frustrations do arise when students are unable to participate in class activities because of compatibility issues.

Are there any computers available to use at the school?

If a student's computer is in need or repair or replacement the college has a small amount of Chromebook computers that are made available for short term use only.  These are borrowed daily through the library, to use in class when required. The Chromebook must be returned each afternoon and is only for use at the College. It is intended as a short-term solution while a student is between computers. If there is another computer at home that a student can use, then all the work they have in their Google Drive at school will also be accessible at home.  If a student needs to borrow a device for longer than 3 weeks, parents/carers will need to contact the school to make these arrangements.

What options do I have for purchasing a computer?

Following the successful introduction of the ‘Technology Resource Program’ (TRP), we will continue to run the program. This program has provided families with the flexibility to choose a computer that is within their budget and is compatible with the College network. It has also provided peace of mind to parents by including extended warranty, Accidental Damage Insurance and technical support through the College Technical Officer.

It is important to note that the cost involved may appear to be more than the cost of a laptop commonly found in catalogues from the regular technology retailers in our area but these cheaper computers are usually not suitable for students and the physical nature of the mobile school environment. These computers may not be compatible with our network environment, they are often slower, larger, heavier, have shorter battery life and have the older technology mechanical hard drives which are more susceptible to crashing. They also do not include the extended warranty nor the ADP insurance and the College is unable to provide support in the event of something going wrong with the computer. It would be up to the family to contact suppliers for warranty and/or accidental damage repairs which can be inconvenient, time consuming and costly. It is for these reasons that we strongly recommend purchasing your computer through the College TRP

What if I want to buy my own computer?

Families are able to organise their own computer for students to use at the College, all we ask is that to ensure the suitability of the computer you buy, that you observe the minimum device specifications (see above). We also want to point out that BYOD Computers used at the College cannot be supported by the College ICT helpdesk. All repairs will need to be arranged by the owner of the computer with the manufacturer or retailer who supplied the computer. 

We would also advise all families to ensure that they have extended warranty and insurance to cover costs in the event of loss, theft or accidental damage.