Power Up Your Education:

Bishop Kelly’s 1:1 Technology Initiative

Bishop Kelly has implemented a 1:1 technology initiative (one device to one student). In addition to helping students become effective communicators and responsible collaborators, this initiative seeks to provide an enriched environment to maximize learning. The goals for this initiative are to:


  • Close the gap between the way students are living and learning (21st Century skills)
  • Differentiate and individualize instruction
  • Make learning collaborative: not just teacher-to-student, but also student-to-student and student-to-teacher
  • Further assist students with special needs
  • Make learning interactive
  • Make classroom resources more accessible and efficient
  • Increase communication between teacher, student, and parents
  • Provide resources and opportunities for faith enrichment
  • Prepare students for college

To accomplish this initiative, Bishop Kelly has adopted a policy (Bring Your Own Device - BYOD) that requires all students to have a personal electronic device. There are many options to choose from; however, there are certain minimum requirements that will allow enrollment in all classes and the best possible education experience.

Required Minimum Specifications

Operating System

Hard Drive (storage)

Processor

Software Applications

Other

Mac
OSX 10.10 (Sierra) or newer
64 GB free storage (for any necessary software to be loaded)
Dual Core or better
JAVA, Adobe Flash, Adobe Reader
Admin rights for the user (to install a filter certificate and troubleshoot connection issues)
Windows
7, 8.1, or 10 (8 does not support some necessary applications)
64 GB free storage (for any necessary software to be loaded)
Dual Core or better
JAVA, Adobe Flash, Adobe Reader
Admin rights for the user (to install a filter certificate and troubleshoot connection issues)

Recommended Specifications for Mac and Windows



256 GB SSD
Quad Core or better
Google Chrome, Microsoft Office (free through BK IT Office)
8 GB Ram or more, 10-inch screen, keyboard, 802.11 A/B/G/N Wifi, 6 hour+ battery life

 

People often ask us for suggestions on which devices to buy. Because the computer industry is rapidly changing, maintaining a list of recommended devices is prohibitive.


As of Jan 2019, we suggest any new computer with the above specs or better should work for any class. However, iPads, tablets, phones, and Chromebooks all have mild to significant limitations and we do not recommend. In addition, recently Acer, Lenovo, and entry-level HP computers are being manufactured with less than the above minimum requirements and/or they are not holding up to use here, so we do not recommend.


Current, new Macbook Air or Pro computers will handle most applications within Bishop Kelly. Unfortunately, the software used for Engineering, Applications of Engineering, and Advanced Manufacturing and Design classes in not available for Apple computers.


***iPads and Chromebooks are acceptable, but have limitations and will not perform all tasks.

***Photography, Video Production, Engineering, Applications of Engineering, Advanced Manufacturing and Design, Intro to Programming, Mobile App Development, Web Design I, Web Design II, Web Design III may have additional recommendations/requirements.

 

***Financial assistance is available to assist families who need help purchasing a device for their student(s).