BYOD Program
Every child in Years 6 - 12 is required to have a personal device (Laptop, Notebook or Tablet) for their learning. Bring Your Own Device, or BYOD, is designed to give students and families the freedom to make choices that suit you and your circumstances.
BYOD Device Specifications
Minimum BYOD Requirements
The following will help you in selecting and purchasing a device for your child to use while they are at school. While there are many options, there are minimum specifications required to support your child’s learning at St Columba College.
• Device Type – Windows device (A tablet must have a physical keyboard attachment)
• Operating System – Windows 10 or 11 (avoid Windows S mode)
• Processor – Intel Core i3, AMD Ryzen 3 or better (avoid Snapdragon (ARM) Processors)
• Memory – 8 GB minimum
• Battery – Minimum 7 hours
• Wireless – 802.11 ac or ax (must support 5 Ghz band)
• Weight – No more than 2.5Kg
• Storage – 128 GB Solid State minimum
• Screen Size – 11.6 - 15 inches (Screen sizes under 13" would not be recommended for students undertaking CAD (Computer Aided Design), IPP (Information Processing and Publishing) or Digital Technologies).
Additional Considerations
The following are not requirements of the BYOD program, but should be strongly considered when purchasing a device:
• Hardcover protective case, sleeve, or bag
• Minimum 3-year warranty and insurance
• USB-C port that supports charging
Please note, Microsoft Office 365 is freely available to students using the College provided email address and password. You do not need to purchase it.
Devices that are not suitable for our environment
• iPads, MacBook’s, Android tablets, Chromebooks.
Families have the following choices:
• Option 1: Through our partnership with Learning with Technologies (LWT), St Columba provides
families access to devices with discounted education pricing, commercial grade build quality and 3-
year onsite warranty service (completed onsite at St Columba) https://columba.orderportal.com.au/
• Option 2: Use an existing device from home that meets the minimum BYOD requirements.
• Option 3: Purchase the device from an external retailer.
Please note – whilst a low-price device (around $300 - $400) can be appealing, be aware that many devices at this price do not have sufficient battery, storage, or speed to allow us to install or operate some required software. Such devices may only meet some of the minimum hardware requirements outlined above.