BYOD & Purchasing
All students who are new to the junior school (years 7, 8, 9) will need to bring their own functioning iPad. Please be sure that your device meets the technology specifications especially if purchasing a new iPad.
At Southport State High School we are commited to continuous improvement, advancing student learning and their educational outcomes. In our junior school programs, this is supported via iPads and the QLearn platform.
Connectivity and services
When students are using the iPad on campus they have access to:
- School network, web browsing and email.
- File servers and access to files stored in their personal folder, common student folders and specific year level folders.
- Smart printing system. Students can collect printouts using their student ID smartcard from several locations around the school.
- The QLearn website (qlearn.eq.edu.au) that gives access to all their course information and for uploading assessment for their course.
When away from school, students are able to continue their education by accessing a home WiFi network or any free public WiFi service.
Setting up an Apple ID account
Parents are encouraged to set up and maintain an Apple ID account on behalf of students. It is recommended that you do this without using your credit card. Follow the instructions for setting up an account without a credit card. Start with the guide for doing this on an iPad. If that doesn't work then try the guide for doing it on a computer using Apple ID.
For more information on setting up an iPad and a child Apple ID, click here.
File Management on iPads
Tips for file management for students on iPads can be found here.
Learning resources
Students will receive instructions from their teachers about accessing in the necessary QLearn courses and accessing resources. other his initiative provides on-demand access to a wide range of resources whether in the classroom or at home.
iPads are capable of running a wide range of classroom apps and tools as part of
our ever-evolving digital platform for learning. Students have access to a rich combination of resources that are available 24/7. Innovative teaching and learning tools and materials are being developed and will continue to be released as we move forward.
Backing up and operating your iPad
Apple have published useful guides on the basics of operating iPads, including backing up your data. As with all technology things can and do go wrong at times. Whilst the iPad is a reliable and sturdy device it is always a good idea to maintain a backup of its content and settings. Please take a few moments to familiarise yourself with the various help topics offered by Apple. Click this link to access the
guides published by Apple.
We recommend a weekly backup of data, apps and settings. Follow the appropriate guide and do this by using iTunes on your home computer. Photos and videos are accessed differently and separately from the backup process. Read this separate guide for more details on how to
access and backup your photos and videos.
Repairs and maintenance
Should you experience problems with your iPad the best thing to do is bring it in to the school IT Service Centre. If it is a school-based iPad we'll get it back up and running again. If it's a BYO iPad, we can assist with minor problems, connection to the Wi-Fi and password resets. For anything more than that, or for warranty service, such as the charger has stopped working or the battery doesn't hold enough charge, the best thing is to take the iPad, charger and cable to a local
Apple service agent. If you're not sure what's wrong, you can always bring it in to us and we'll take a look for you and suggest the best course of action.
If you have a BYO iPad,
go to this page to check on the status of your warranty. You'll need the serial number from the back of the iPad, or it can be copied from the General Settings page on the iPad.
Battery charging and operating time
The iPad battery is capable of running all day while at school without being recharged. We suggest leaving the charger and cable at home and recharge the iPad each night so that you can bring it to school fully charged.
Printing from your iPad
Printers are lcoated in the the Learning Hub. These printers can easily be signed into by swiping student ID card. For further printing instructions, see the step-by-step guide in the Learning Hub.
Internet credit
Junior students with iPads receive a quota of internet credit per month. To avoid using up your monthly internet credit follow these rules:
- Don’t listen to internet music. e.g. Spotify
- Don't download apps or games while at school
- Don't play games while at school.