Education Technology

Summer 2018 Tech Boot Camp Sign-Ups Are Now Open!

Click on this link to register for your session

The Educational Technology Department works in conjunction with Information Technology to provide De La Salle students, faculty, and staff with a wide range of technology tools and access to collaboration and create whenever and wherever they are.

De La Salle's Bring Your Own Laptop (BYOL) Program

De La Salle High School believes in the use of technology to engage, expand, and supplement student learning across the curriculum. To this end, De La Salle operates in a Bring Your Own Laptop (BYOL) environment for all students.

Students in grades 9-12 grade students must have a laptop for daily academic use. These students are asked to bring a laptop each day, meeting the following minimum requirements:

• Windows laptop: Microsoft Windows 7 (service pack 1) or higher; Windows “hybrids” such as the Surface Pro 3 are acceptable. Mac laptop: Mac OS 10.8 (Mountain Lion) or higher.
• De La Salle does not recommend a particular brand of laptop; roughly 50% of our students use Mac devices and 50% use Windows. Please consider a laptop that is a good value for durability. Lenovo and Dell make some very durable and price-conscious models.
• No need to purchase Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or equivalent office suite (OpenOffice, Pages, Keynote, Numbers, etc.). De La Salle will provide a student license for the Microsoft Office/365 suite to ALL students at Tech Boot Camp.
• Protective sleeve or case.
• Headphones/earbuds.
• It is highly recommended that families acquire an extended warranty that includes accidental damage protection (such as GeekSquad, HP CarePack Services, etc.), which covers against drops, breaks, and spills (the most common damage). Also note that AppleCare does NOT include accidental damage protection.

Please note: Tablets such as Apple iPads and Android devices, readers, and smartphones are NOT sufficient for day-to-day use in the 9th-grade year.

Students qualifying for financial aid will be considered
for assistance in securing laptops.

FAQs about Educational Technology

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Q

So for the incoming class of 2022, devices are mandated?

A

Yes. All incoming 9th-grade students must have a laptop. Laptops minimum requirements are as follows:

• Windows laptop: Microsoft Windows 7 (service pack 1) or higher; Windows “hybrids” such as the Surface Pro 3 are acceptable. Mac laptop: Mac OS 10.8 (Mountain Lion) or higher.
• DeLaSalle will provide a student license for the Microsoft Office/365 suite to all students.
• Protective sleeve or case.
• Headphones/earbuds.
• It is highly recommended that families acquire an extended warranty that includes accidental damage protection (such as GeekSquad, HP CarePack Services, etc.), which covers against drops, breaks, and spills (the most common damage). Also note that AppleCare does NOT include accidental damage protection.

Please note: Tablets such as Apple iPads, Google Chromebooks, Android devices, readers, and smartphones are NOT sufficient for day-to-day use.

Q

I’m concerned about my son bringing an expensive device to school everyday -- what about damage or theft?

A

We are too! Trusting a ninth-grade boy with a device IS an exercise in trust. We know that 76 percent of our 9th through 11th-graders already primarily own and use a mobile device daily. We are dedicated to partnering with families to continue the conversation about and training around the responsibilities of owning, caring for, and using a device. We provide resources and tools for students and parents regarding safety and security. [See the Student Technology Page and Parent Technology Resource Page.] We strongly advise families to purchase device insurance and a repair plan to protect against damage/loss. Check out Prey (www.preyproject.com) for free device tracking software

Q

What will my son be doing each day on his laptop? What about distractions?

A

De La Salle teachers actively use technology to supplement their curriculum. Students use their devices daily for note-taking, collaborative writing and project production, data collection, and research. Beginning in Fall 2015, De La Salle and Carondelet will both use Schoology Learning Management System as the storehouse for course materials and resources. Beginning at Tech Boot Camp, we talk with students about managing distractions through honest discussion and showing them distraction-management tools/apps like SelfControl (for Macs) or Cold Turkey (for PCs). [Links to these are on the Student Technology Page and Parent Technology Page.] We encourage parents to have an ongoing discussion with their sons around device use and your expectations; you are empowered to regulate device use. Please take a look at our Parent Technology Page for more articles and resources for managing technology with your son.

Student LaptopsWhile De La Salle does not recommend a particular brand of laptop; roughly 50% of our students use Mac devices and 50% use Windows.

Because transitioning from middle school to high school is complicated in and of itself, have students bring a laptop they are currently using (if applicable); there is no need to go out and buy a new laptop if the existing laptop meets the standard. Perhaps a discussion and decision to purchase a newer device can be had after your son has experienced a semester of school at De La Salle and is in a better position to judge what type of laptop will complement his workload.

Please consider a laptop that is a good value for durability. Lenovo and Dell make some very durable and price-conscious models. We currently use the Dell Latitude Model 3340 for our teacher laptops.

De La Salle High School recognizes that not all students have the resources to acquire devices. Students qualifying for financial aid will be eligible for use of/access to a long-term loaned device.

Contact Mr. Jay Juarez, IT Director, if you qualify for a loaned device: juarezj@dlshs.org