Upper School Laptop
Frequently-Asked Questions
In August 2014, ISA began our bring-your-own laptop program for upper
school students. Each student in grades 6 through 12 is required to bring
his or her own personal laptop to school. This document will be updated
as new questions are asked. The most recent update was June 2, 2015.
Why choose bring-your-own over schoolprovided laptops?
When implementing our laptop program, we used the “allow, encourage,
require” model, which let us transition from school-owned laptop carts to
a student-owned 1:1 program over the course of four years. We began by
allowing certain students to use their own laptops with permission, then
by allowing all students to access the WiFi with their personal devices.
Next we encouraged all students who had their own laptops to bring
them to school. We also provided a discount to any families so that they
could buy computers at the same educational rate that ISA pays. Then
in August 2014, we required all students to bring their own laptops to
school.
The parent and student groups who advised the committee on the details
of our laptop program strongly encouraged us to allow students the freedom to choose their operating system. We also want students to feel a
or later. Note that Windows Surface RT does not allow you to install the
school programs.
Can my child use a Chromebook instead?
Can my child use a iPad, Surface RT or
Galaxy tablet instead? Can my child use
a smartphone instead?
No, your child needs a laptop which can run Mac OS X, Windows 7 or
Windows 8. (Windows 10 will also be supported when it is released in
2015). The Chrome OS does not allow you to install the school programs.
Tablets, iPads, and smartphones are great secondary devices. Your child
is welcome to bring those and get them on the network. They often
make excellent note-taking devices. It’s very convenient to use a tablet
or smartphone as a camera so that your photos sync to your laptop.
However, students still need to have a Mac or Windows laptop.
sense of ownership of their laptop. Reports from other schools indicate
that when students choose their own laptop, they take better care of it
and use it more effectively than in schools where students lack that sense
of ownership and choice.
What are the minimum specifications for
the laptop my child needs?
The most important specifications are that the laptop is fast enough
to use within seconds, light enough to easily carry back and forth to
school, and with a powerful enough battery to be able to use it all day.
Additionally, students must be able to install software on their laptop,
How will students keep their laptops
charged?
Hopefully, your child’s laptop will have a powerful battery which can last
all day. They may need to adjust some settings, like screen brightness,
in order to maximize their battery life. In some locations, such as the
library, there will be power outlets available for students to use. And in
an emergency situation, students may be allowed to charge their laptops
during class. You may wish to purchase an additional charger for your
child to have on hand in their locker, so that they don’t have to carry it
back and forth to school.
so that they can run the important programs that each upper school
department uses.
In general, though, we will be avoiding the cable clutter and tripping
hazards caused by having power strips everywhere.
The model that most teachers at ISA are using is the 13-inch MacBook
Air. The basic model available from Xando for less than 1000 euro is an
excellent computer; with 128 GB storage, 1.6 GHz processor, and 4GB
memory. That’s the same model which ISA teachers and administrators
use. If you wanted to upgrade to more memory or more storage, you
certainly could, but there is no requirement to do so.
There are several Windows laptops which also have fast startup times,
long battery life, and light weight. The Windows Surface Pro and the Sony
ultrabook get excellent reviews. In order to make sure your Windows
laptop can run all the required software, make sure it has Windows 7
If I buy the laptop in the Netherlands, can
I change the language to reflect what we
speak at home?
Both Mac OS and Windows 8 allow you to change the system language.
You can download multiple language packs and switch between them as
you wish. It’s a great way to personalize your computing experience and
stay connected with your mother tongue.
If the laptop I buy has a Dutch keyboard,
will I be able to use it when we move?
How can we protect the laptop against
loss or theft?
The Dutch, US, and International keyboards are very similar. The only
All students should install Front Door software on their laptop. It’s a great
main difference in keyboards is the placement of the Euro symbol.
way to protect against loss or theft. Our license includes use for employ-
Ordering the US or International keyboards often results in longer delivery
ees personal computers as well. Just make sure you use your @isa.nl
times. The Dutch keyboard is an international English-language keyboard
email address when creating your account. For more information, visit the
and is the standard we use at ISA. It is so similar to the International
Front Door page of the student software download website.
keyboard that it should cause no problems in the future.
Is there a way to get an educational discount on the purchase?
Should we purchase Microsoft Office or
any other software?
Students will need a way of creating and reading word processed docu-
Xando, the company which ISA buys all of its computers from, offers
ments and spreadsheets, such as Word and Excel documents. Each ISA
parents the same discount price that our tech department gets. In addi-
student already has a Google Drive account which is an easy way to
tion, the Apple Store for Education has good prices. It’s worthwhile to
read, edit, and share documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more.
compare both discounts to see which is better at the time, since prices
When you buy a new laptop, you often have the choice of purchasing
change frequently.
Office, but it may be expensive. (Xando’s price is 119 Euro.) If you do wish
to purchase Microsoft Office, we recommend using Slim.nl, which offers
To purchase a Mac computer using the ISA discount code with Xando.
a very attractive educational discount on software to students. On a Mac
you just use the ISA discount code ( XND2013ISA ) and create an
or Windows laptop, you can also install the free Open Office software
account. You will see the discount applied after you sign in to your
which is an open source alternative to the Microsoft Office suite. The
account.
Mac iWorks suite which comes for free with a new Mac includes Pages
and Numbers.
If you need to speak with a Xando customer service representative, they
can also be reached by phone at +31 (0)38 425 40 60. It’s worthwhile to
Most of the software your child will need for class, including Autograph,
comparison shop as well. Since prices on laptops may change from day
Geometer’s Sketchpad, Pasco Data Studio, Comic Life, WeVideo, Read-
to day, the Apple Store for Education sometimes offers discounts or new
Write Gold and many others, will be provided as part of the ISA site
options before Xando does.
license. You will not need to purchase these. License codes and download instructions are available on the student software download website.
Are there financial options to spread the
cost out over time?
Each family has unique needs, so the exact solution may differ. ISA’s
Students simply sign in with their Google account and they will get all the
details and help they need.
business office is able to work with families on a case-by-case basis to
Can students print from their own laptops?
help spread the cost of a laptop purchase out over the course of three
Students can use the school networked photocopiers. They simply go to
years. In addition, ISA will also be able to support your request to invoice
Everyone Print and they can access the copy machines. There are many
your employer for the costs of the laptop. This of course, only when your
options, but most students find that the Driver Print option is the most
employer is willing to absorb such costs. Please note that this is not a
efficient way to print.
lease; the laptop is purchased and owned outright by the family.
Please contact Harmen Veling ([email protected]) in the business office if
you would like to know more about the options available for your family.
What sort of warranty or insurance
should my family get?
When purchasing a costly device for your kids, insurance is an important
topic. There is no single best answer, since each family has its own needs
and situations. However, we would like to give you some advice when
making this important decision.