We hope that these FAQ's will answer any questions parents will have about the program.
What are the specifications of the iPad that we need to purchase?
For students entering into Year Four in 2017, the recommended specifications for the iPad that they need are an iPad Air 2- 64GB - Wifi only Students currently in Years Four and Five that are using an iPad 2 should consider upgrading during 2016, as by 2017 the iPad 2 will no longer meet minimum specifications and be able to run the required applications.
What happens if my son/daughter already has an iPad?
Great. If your child already has an iPad at home and it meets the minimum requirements we recommend they use it.
What if I simply can’t afford to buy an iPad for my child?
Please see the Principal in cases of genuine financial hardship and your particular circumstances can be discussed and alternatives considered.
If I don’t already have an iPad for my child to use, where can I purchase one?
You may purchase an iPad that meets the minimum requirements from any iPad retailer.
How long will we have the iPad for?
Your child will need an iPad for years 4, 5 & 6 at St Anthony’s.
Will parents be required to pay for Apps?
Yes. St Anthony's School will be enrolling student iPads in a Mobile Device Management system that will allow the school to distribute some apps that have been purchased by the school to the student iPads. In addition, device management gives teachers and parents the ability to lock the iPad to a particular app or website as well as monitor student usage. Parents will still be able to log into the app store on the iPad and download purchased apps and install new apps. The enrolment process to enable teacher and parental controls wipes the content of the iPad and registers the iPad in the teacher and parent portal. Enrolment without teacher and parental controls only allows the school to install the apps.
Parents will be given a list of starter apps that they can download through links on the iPad website. The website will specify exactly what apps are required and provide a direct link to the App Store. There is no cost to use this website, however there may be a cost for downloading a required App. Whilst the school will choose free apps where available and appropriate, there will be paid apps that will need to be purchased. Parents will need to purchase an iTunes Gift Card to be added to the iTunes account on the iPad (Value of iTunes card stiil to be finalised). The program will commence with a specific set of apps that will need to be downloaded and this list may be added to during the course of each year.
St Anthony’s will use this website where students are directed to the apps required for their iPad.
Will my child be able to charge their iPad at school?
No. The iPad will need to come to school fully charged each day. It will easily last the length of the school day.
How much time will students use the iPads in the classrooms?
This will change on a daily basis. With any learning experience, the teacher is best placed to decide which tool will be the most effective in meeting the intended learning outcome. iPads are not intended to be a replacement or a substitute for any of the more conventional tools teachers have at their disposal. It is the school’s belief that any well rounded approach to education involves balanced access to a variety of tools. iPads simply increase the number of tools at the teacher’s disposal and are only used when they are the best tool for the job. The iPad program will support current teaching and learning plans and will assist in developing higher order thinking skills.
Will my child be required to do homework on the iPad?
Homework will be set at the discretion of the classroom teacher. There may be times when students will have the opportunity to complete projects that they have started at school. There will also be apps that they can use at home to aid their learning. Use of the iPad at home will also allow students to familiarise themselves with how to use apps to improve their confidence when using them in the classroom. Most importantly, the students will have the opportunity to show other members of the household what they have been working on with their iPad.
What headphones will my child need?
The standard apple headphones are fine, we do however find some children find the earbud style of headphones uncomfortable and therefore have just asked for headphones with a microphone to allow parents to choose the most appropriate for their child.
Will individual's iPads be used by other students?
No. Only the owner of the iPad will be using it. There will be times where students will be working with groups and will need to share content, this will be done through wireless transfer of documents, photos, videos etc. Students without an iPad will be provided with a school device for the purpose of the lesson as determined by the classroom teacher.
Could my child have their iPad confiscated during school time?
Yes. The school reserves the right to remove the iPad from the student and securely store it until the end of the day if the student is in breach of the acceptable use policy or code of conduct. Should this occur, parents will be contacted by phone.
Will students need an Apple ID?
Yes. As the requirement for an Apple ID is to be over 13 years of age, parents will need to create this ID in their name using their email address. Even if parents have an existing Apple ID, it is highly recommended that a new one be created for school use with the iTunes credit that the students will need to have, and not linked to a credit card. Parents may choose not to add all of the credit on to the account at once.
Are students allowed to have other apps, games and music installed on their iPad?
Yes. The device can be personalised by students, but priority should be given to the educational apps stipulated by the school. Other apps will not be allowed to be used during the school day and if are deemed inappropriate, parents may be asked to remove the app.
What if my child forgets to bring their iPad to school one day?
If there is a school iPad available, then they may be able to borrow it, otherwise they will need to complete activities without it and possibly catch up in their own time. If this occurs regularly, parents will be contacted by phone.
Where does the iPad stay during the day?
iPads will remain locked in the classrooms during recess and lunch. iPads are to remain in the students’ school bags with the student before and after school. When the student enters the classroom the iPad will be stored in the students’ desk or drawer. Students may be required to take their iPad to classes with specialist subject teachers. If there is a situation where the student is involved in a before or after school activity such as a sporting activity, students will be able to store their school bag in the school office.
Will there be any support for parents if the iPads are to be used at home?
Yes. The school will offer a parent information session for parents to ask questions and get some hands on experience using the iPad.
How will the school regulate the use of the iPad at home?
The school is unable to regulate the use of the iPad apps or internet use whilst the child is off campus. We encourage parents to be aware of what their children are doing on any form of technology, particularly internet enabled and strongly encourage use of those devices in family areas, not private (such as bedrooms)
What if the iPad is damaged, lost or stolen?
Parents need to ensure that the iPad is covered on their home insurance for at home, school and in transit. Should an incident occur at school where the iPad is damaged the school will assess the incident on a case by case basis and may cover the repair of the iPad if the school is deemed to be at fault for the circumstances of the incident. With the robust cases that the school is recommending there is low likelihood of damage to the iPad.
For students entering into Year Four in 2017, the recommended specifications for the iPad that they need are an iPad Air 2- 64GB - Wifi only Students currently in Years Four and Five that are using an iPad 2 should consider upgrading during 2016, as by 2017 the iPad 2 will no longer meet minimum specifications and be able to run the required applications.
What happens if my son/daughter already has an iPad?
Great. If your child already has an iPad at home and it meets the minimum requirements we recommend they use it.
What if I simply can’t afford to buy an iPad for my child?
Please see the Principal in cases of genuine financial hardship and your particular circumstances can be discussed and alternatives considered.
If I don’t already have an iPad for my child to use, where can I purchase one?
You may purchase an iPad that meets the minimum requirements from any iPad retailer.
How long will we have the iPad for?
Your child will need an iPad for years 4, 5 & 6 at St Anthony’s.
Will parents be required to pay for Apps?
Yes. St Anthony's School will be enrolling student iPads in a Mobile Device Management system that will allow the school to distribute some apps that have been purchased by the school to the student iPads. In addition, device management gives teachers and parents the ability to lock the iPad to a particular app or website as well as monitor student usage. Parents will still be able to log into the app store on the iPad and download purchased apps and install new apps. The enrolment process to enable teacher and parental controls wipes the content of the iPad and registers the iPad in the teacher and parent portal. Enrolment without teacher and parental controls only allows the school to install the apps.
Parents will be given a list of starter apps that they can download through links on the iPad website. The website will specify exactly what apps are required and provide a direct link to the App Store. There is no cost to use this website, however there may be a cost for downloading a required App. Whilst the school will choose free apps where available and appropriate, there will be paid apps that will need to be purchased. Parents will need to purchase an iTunes Gift Card to be added to the iTunes account on the iPad (Value of iTunes card stiil to be finalised). The program will commence with a specific set of apps that will need to be downloaded and this list may be added to during the course of each year.
St Anthony’s will use this website where students are directed to the apps required for their iPad.
Will my child be able to charge their iPad at school?
No. The iPad will need to come to school fully charged each day. It will easily last the length of the school day.
How much time will students use the iPads in the classrooms?
This will change on a daily basis. With any learning experience, the teacher is best placed to decide which tool will be the most effective in meeting the intended learning outcome. iPads are not intended to be a replacement or a substitute for any of the more conventional tools teachers have at their disposal. It is the school’s belief that any well rounded approach to education involves balanced access to a variety of tools. iPads simply increase the number of tools at the teacher’s disposal and are only used when they are the best tool for the job. The iPad program will support current teaching and learning plans and will assist in developing higher order thinking skills.
Will my child be required to do homework on the iPad?
Homework will be set at the discretion of the classroom teacher. There may be times when students will have the opportunity to complete projects that they have started at school. There will also be apps that they can use at home to aid their learning. Use of the iPad at home will also allow students to familiarise themselves with how to use apps to improve their confidence when using them in the classroom. Most importantly, the students will have the opportunity to show other members of the household what they have been working on with their iPad.
What headphones will my child need?
The standard apple headphones are fine, we do however find some children find the earbud style of headphones uncomfortable and therefore have just asked for headphones with a microphone to allow parents to choose the most appropriate for their child.
Will individual's iPads be used by other students?
No. Only the owner of the iPad will be using it. There will be times where students will be working with groups and will need to share content, this will be done through wireless transfer of documents, photos, videos etc. Students without an iPad will be provided with a school device for the purpose of the lesson as determined by the classroom teacher.
Could my child have their iPad confiscated during school time?
Yes. The school reserves the right to remove the iPad from the student and securely store it until the end of the day if the student is in breach of the acceptable use policy or code of conduct. Should this occur, parents will be contacted by phone.
Will students need an Apple ID?
Yes. As the requirement for an Apple ID is to be over 13 years of age, parents will need to create this ID in their name using their email address. Even if parents have an existing Apple ID, it is highly recommended that a new one be created for school use with the iTunes credit that the students will need to have, and not linked to a credit card. Parents may choose not to add all of the credit on to the account at once.
Are students allowed to have other apps, games and music installed on their iPad?
Yes. The device can be personalised by students, but priority should be given to the educational apps stipulated by the school. Other apps will not be allowed to be used during the school day and if are deemed inappropriate, parents may be asked to remove the app.
What if my child forgets to bring their iPad to school one day?
If there is a school iPad available, then they may be able to borrow it, otherwise they will need to complete activities without it and possibly catch up in their own time. If this occurs regularly, parents will be contacted by phone.
Where does the iPad stay during the day?
iPads will remain locked in the classrooms during recess and lunch. iPads are to remain in the students’ school bags with the student before and after school. When the student enters the classroom the iPad will be stored in the students’ desk or drawer. Students may be required to take their iPad to classes with specialist subject teachers. If there is a situation where the student is involved in a before or after school activity such as a sporting activity, students will be able to store their school bag in the school office.
Will there be any support for parents if the iPads are to be used at home?
Yes. The school will offer a parent information session for parents to ask questions and get some hands on experience using the iPad.
How will the school regulate the use of the iPad at home?
The school is unable to regulate the use of the iPad apps or internet use whilst the child is off campus. We encourage parents to be aware of what their children are doing on any form of technology, particularly internet enabled and strongly encourage use of those devices in family areas, not private (such as bedrooms)
What if the iPad is damaged, lost or stolen?
Parents need to ensure that the iPad is covered on their home insurance for at home, school and in transit. Should an incident occur at school where the iPad is damaged the school will assess the incident on a case by case basis and may cover the repair of the iPad if the school is deemed to be at fault for the circumstances of the incident. With the robust cases that the school is recommending there is low likelihood of damage to the iPad.