Digital device requirements
Digital Devices - what do I bring and what do I need to know?
Year 7 - 9
Parents/guardians are required to provide their children from Y7 to Y9 with an iPad, capable of running the latest Operating System.
Minimum specifications for Years 7, 8 and 9 are:
- iPad (10th Generation 2022 or later, any model)
- At least 64GB storage space
- Wi-Fi only
We strongly recommend students also have access to:
- A durable cover
- A compatible keyboard (preferably integrated into a protective case)
- Headphones
- Stylus to write on iPad (Apple Pen recommended)
If you do not already own the above we recommend buying the device at Choose IT:
Year 10 -13
It is mandatory for parents/guardians to provide children in Y10 to Y13 with a laptop.
The ISH ICT infrastructure and support are Apple orientated and as a result, our preference is for your child to use an Apple device.
Specifications:
- Less than 3 years old
- Updated to the latest MacOS (Currently MacOS 14 Sonoma), or at minimum MacOS 13 (Ventura)
However, if your child is equipped with a Windows laptop:
Specifications:
- Ideally less than 2 years old
- Windows 11 installed or compatible with Windows 11 since Windows 10 is nearing end of support
- Wireless support for 2.4GHz & 5GHz network protocols
Where to buy
ISH offers parents the ability to purchase an iPad for their children via the Choose-IT Portal.
Click This Link to go to the portal and register for an account.
These devices are fully managed and controlled by the school in order to keep students safe and secure and to help them focus on their education while using technology without unnecessary distractions.
Parents obtaining a device from the portal may also purchase accessories and insurance for the devices if they so wish.
iPads ordered through the portal will be delivered directly to the school so they can be configured and made ready for your child when they start school. You will recieve a notification once the device is delivered.
If you choose not to purchase a device through the school’s Choose-IT portal, and instead opt for an unmanaged device, we strongly recommend you take out an insurance policy on the devices students bring into school. You will need to communicate directly with your own insurance company in the event of damage or loss. Parents are advised to check their insurance policy for devices before arranging repairs on damaged devices. Some policies only cover work carried out by “approved” partners.
ISH does work closely with a company called Touch Fix who can offer repair services for devices if appropriate.
Appropriate Usage
The International School of The Hague strives to foster a safe, disciplined, educational environment, both offline and online, to provide an atmosphere where students can develop the skills to become motivated, independent, and productive digital citizens. The ISH teachers and students know the benefits of technology in the educational environment and strive to ensure that technology is used appropriately and effectively.
All members of ISH will be good digital citizens by being safe, responsible, and respectful with their use of technology. Staff and students will model digital citizenship and encourage others to do the same. Teachers will instruct their students about the appropriate use of technology and online safety. ISH teachers, staff and students will protect their information, treat others kindly, and credit their sources.
Classroom expectations
- Use digital resources to view and use only sites and applications related to schoolwork.
- Using social media in class is forbidden unless specific instruction to use these services as part of a lesson is given by a teacher. Social media should only be used in the classroom as part of educational activity. Students under the age of 13 years should not use Social Media at ISH.
- Mobile phones are not permitted in the classroom unless specific instruction to use these devices as part of a lesson is given by a teacher
- Students are not allowed to post photographs, films and sound recordings of school-related situations on social media unless the persons concerned have specifically given permission for the posts.
- Using digital resources to delete, copy or alter the work or data of other students or staff, or entering other user’s private spaces or areas is forbidden.
As set out in the School Guide, to be a community based on honesty is one of the mission statements of the ISH. Accordingly, plagiarism, which includes copying material from the Internet or other students and presenting it as your own work will have serious consequences. This also applies to students' use of Artificial Intelligence tools.
At ISH we believe that a mentoring approach to guiding students towards safe and appropriate use of digital devices will best prepare them for a digitally rich future. Parents are a vital element of this approach. Therefore we recommend the following:
Laptops and iPads at Home
It is helpful to discuss how you would like your child to use their digital devices at home. Depending upon the age of your child, it can be useful to create a family agreement for digital devices.
There are things to keep in mind before creating a family agreement about your child’s personal device, talking about how the device will be used at home is a starting point. Use the suggested guidelines below to help make sure that you and your child are on the same page. Also available, if you wish to use it, is a Home Agreement that you can complete and sign with your child. Parents can download a home agreement from the Technology at ISH group space accessed via the parent login to the ISH portal.
WHERE, WHEN, & HOW LONG?
- Decide where you’re comfortable having your child use the device. Can they only use it in family spaces, like a family room or kitchen? Can they bring it into their bedroom or the bathroom? Can they use it at the dinner table?
- Consider the difference between using a device for homework and using it for entertainment. ISH has a maximum homework requirement of 1.5 hours per night for Y7-9.
- Talk about what it means to “balance” time spent with technology, media, and other activities. What are some steps your family can take to balance screen time with face-to-face time? Do you want to make the dinner table a device-free zone, in which no family member (not even the adults) may use a cell phone, tablet, or computer? Do you want to set a curfew for when devices need to be shut off?
CHECKING IN
- Explain to your child that as the parent or caregiver, part of your job is to guide them. Identify ways to maintain open, honest communication with your children about their device.
- Discuss how you’ll monitor the device. Do you want to check up on your child’s activity? If so, how? Will you ask your child to give you access to emails, texts, and IMs? Will you review his or her search history (which can be deleted) from time to time? We advise parents to use the Screen Time app with their children. It is an interesting activity to establish how much time students spend on their devices or specific applications.
- Talk with your child about the kinds of apps they’ll be using and accounts they’ll have. Ask them to show you their favourites, as well as the ones they use most. How do they work? What’s so cool about them? How do these tools support their learning?
PRIVACY SETTINGS
- Practice creating a strong password together. Use at least eight characters (mixing letters, numbers, and symbols) and avoid including any private information such as names, addresses, birth dates, etc. Remember to have your child write down usernames and passwords and keep the information stored in a safe place.
- Discuss the importance of not sharing passwords with others, and decide whether parents should be an exception to the rule. One idea is to have your children create their own passwords but then keep them accessible to parents in a sealed envelope for emergencies.
- Review privacy policies and privacy settings together. Make sure your children understand what private and personal information companies may or may not be collecting. Decide how public or private an audience you all are comfortable with when it comes to sharing and posting.
CARE & MAINTENANCE
- Discuss what you consider to be responsible for the care and maintenance of the device. Where will the device be stored and charged at home? Why is it important to treat the device gently?
- Outline the responsibility factor. Discuss what will happen and who is responsible if the device gets stolen, lost, or broken — even if by accident.
COMMUNICATING RESPONSIBLY ONLINE
- Talk about the difference between using the device to communicate with classmates for school-related work and using it for hanging out or playing with friends. What are the school’s guidelines for appropriate use? How will you enforce similar expectations at home?
- Discuss your family rules for social networking and messaging – with people they know, sort of know, or don’t know. What does it mean to be respectful to and respected by others? What does that look like? Use this as a springboard for discussing cyberbullying, privacy, and safety.
Download a home agreement from the Technology at ISH group space accessed via the parent login to the ISH portal.
Digital Device Gaming
ISH is currently reviewing how student devices used in school are managed. This review includes how we manage the applications available to students while they are in school.
Where needed, the ISH EdTech team provides support for parents in the appropriate use of applications and games.
ISH accepts the contribution that digital games may make to learning, particularly when a game explicitly supports the learning of knowledge or skills. However, ISH advises students to limit their gameplay and device use when outside of the classroom.
ISH has adopted a Device-Free Lunch policy whereby students in Years 7-9 do not use a device unless in a supervised “work” area for learning activities. The device-free lunch has been implemented to support parents in negotiating limits to device use at home.
Games with an App Store rating of 17+, PEGI rating of 16 or ESRB rating of M or Ao are not permitted at ISH.
Games awaiting a recognised rating are not permitted at school.