eLearning Guidelines @ MCC
Mackay Christian College has made a strong commitment to the integration of ICT in classrooms. Digital access for all students at the College is a priority, providing a valuable educational resource. Parents are asked to purchase and label earphones (not earbuds) with iPad or laptop connectivity for their child.
Students in Prep to Year 4 will be given access to classroom-based eDevices. Students in Years 5 and Year 6 will be provided with an in-classroom laptop through the MCC laptop program to enhance their learning experience.
Years 7 - 9
Students in Year 7, and newly enrolled students in Year 8 and Year 9, will be issued with College owned laptops that have been preconfigured with the College management system and security, and loaded with all required software programs. The laptop comes with a case, charger and 3-year warranty with accidental damage protection. Excess fees will apply to accidental damage protection claims and these claims are limited each year. Students should carry the laptop in the case provided when not in use. If the laptop is damaged or not working, it must be taken to the College ICT Department in the TLE Block for assessment and repairs. Please note that previously enrolled Years 8 and 9 students will continue to use their iPad.
Years 10 - 12
Students in Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12 have the option to bring their own laptop, if preferred. Laptops must be Wi-Fi enabled (minimum recommendation for wireless as 5GHz compatible (802.11n/ac/ax) and capable of running Windows 11, Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud. Students in Years 11 and 12 who are ATAR eligible are required to complete substantial assignments in several of their subjects and should choose the laptop option. The College advises that, as a minimum requirement, laptops are equipped with an Intel Core i5 10th generation CPU, 16GB of RAM, 5GHz (802.11n/ac/ax) compatible and a drive with at least 256GB storage. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) laptops should be running Windows 11 or, if a BYOD Mac, be able to receive software updates from Apple. BYOD devices should have current antivirus software installed (Macs included), with free versions being readily accessible. The College may install configuration applications to secure and setup Wi-Fi and Office365 access.
Years 10-12 students choosing an iPad must provide a full-sized iPad, with a minimum of 64GB storage and Wi-Fi connectivity. iPads must be able to receive and support Apple updates and be 5GHz (802.11n/ac/ax) compatible. Normally, these are iPads less than three years old. The iPad 'Pro' with Wi-Fi connectivity is acceptable, however it is more expensive to purchase. The iPad 'Mini' is not permitted as the screen size makes it unsuitable for learning. The use of cloud technologies provided by the College enables students to supplement an iPad with other devices at home, if preferred.
iPad Support & Additional Warranty (Yrs 10-12)
We strongly recommend purchasing AppleCare+ warranty with your iPad. This includes two (2) years of phone support from Apple rather than 30 days, plus an additional 12 months’ warranty (total of 2 years warranty) as well as cover for accidental damage (T&C’s apply AppleCare Products - iPad - Apple (AU)).
Protecting your eDevice (Yrs 10-12)
The College strongly recommends the purchase of a robust case to minimise potential damage. The Griffin Survivor Case or Otterbox Defender have both been proven to be highly effective at reducing damage to iPads used by students at MCC and other schools. Cases such as the STM blazer can provide extra padding for laptops. The risk of accidental damage occurring is real and should be factored into consideration. The College accepts no responsibility for damage caused to students’ eDevices. We also strongly recommend that you insure your child’s eDevice and that any damages are repaired by an authorised provider which will not void the eDevice’s warranty. It is probable that your child’s eDevice will need to be replaced after three (3) years.
Where to Purchase an iPad (Yr 10-12)
iPads are available to purchase locally and online. As part of your purchasing decision, you may wish to consider whether local after-sales support is available. Standard Apple support requires the customer to call a support number, then send the iPad directly to Apple for repair, with an estimated turnaround time of 2-3 weeks. As well as inquiring about after-sales support at your store of choice, you may also wish to ask if they provide free training in the use of iPads. The College is unable to assist with iPad hardware faults, warranty claims or repairs, or loan units. However, our ICT department always endeavors to assist students with iPad software configuration issues where possible.
Local retailers include:
Apple Premium Resellers (Specialists in Apple Sales and Service) e.g., Matilda Internet
Department stores - Big W, Target, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman and The Good Guys.
Advice for Parents/Carers (Yrs 10-12)
The use or installation of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are not permitted at any time. Students do not need games and entertainment apps for school. Allowing these apps on your child’s electronic learning devices is a family decision. EDevices are a tool to facilitate learning; that is their main purpose at MCC. Students can use their eDevice for other purposes but they must be appropriate to the context, whether at school or home, and subject to permission. We support parent/carer decisions about the setting of boundaries at home, if schoolwork can be completed.
Student Responsibilities
Students will be responsible for using their eDevice in accordance with the College’s Acceptable Use Policy, the Code of Conduct and our CLEAR Technology expectations (see ICT Acceptable Use Policy at mcc.qld.edu.au). Students who fail to meet their responsibilities will be dealt with as per the College’s Student Behaviour Education Policy (see Behavior Education Policy at mcc.qld.edu.au). The use or installation of VPN is not permitted at any time. Students may be instructed to delete apps and/or software if used inappropriately while at school and the student’s eDevice may be confiscated. Edevices are under teacher supervision from 8.30am to 3.00pm. If students in Years 7 to 12 regularly fail to bring their eDevice to class, parents will be notified. As parents/carers, your support of the College’s eLearning is greatly appreciated.
OPENING HOURS
8am - 4pm Monday - Friday
During the Holidays
9am - 3:30pm Monday - Friday
