Bring Your Own Device for Learning
Overview for Students in Grades 9-12
The BYOD for Learning program at ZIS empowers students by allowing them to use a familiar, personal device to support their learning.
This approach offers significant benefits:
- Enhanced Learning and Productivity: Students work more efficiently on a device they know well, reducing interruptions to workflow.
- Seamless Transitions: Students new to ZIS or those departing experience minimal disruption by continuing to use their own device.
- Improved IT Investment: BYOD allows the school to focus resources on robust security, infrastructure, and software licensing, ensuring a safe and high-quality digital learning environment.
Starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, all students in Grades 9-12 will be required to bring their own device for learning. Currently 50% of students in these grade levels already bring their own device. This has been an option for returning students since August 2024, while new students have been required to bring a device.
Purchasing a Device - Minimum Specification for 2025/26
A higher specification is strongly recommended for students in courses requiring resource-intensive activities like movie editing or digital design.
Minimum Device Specifications:
- Processor: Intel Core i5/i7, AMD Ryzen 5/7, or Apple M1/M2 (or higher).
- Operating System: Windows 10 / macOS 11 (or later)
- RAM: 16GB (or higher)
- Storage: 256GB SSD or HDD (or higher)
- Display: 13-inch or larger
- Graphics: Integrated graphics card (Intel HD / AMD Radeon)
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- Ports: USB 3.0 (or USB-C on Mac)
- Keyboard: Personal choice according to language preference
- Battery Life: 10 hours
What if I already have a laptop that doesn’t meet the listed specifications?
No problem! If your device performs well and supports your learning without issues, you may continue using it at school.
Security and Safeguards
We understand that safeguarding is a top concern for families. At ZIS, we have implemented multiple layers of protection to ensure a safe and controlled digital environment for students:
- Secure Network: All student devices connect via a specially configured, secure Wi-Fi network that includes content filtering and activity logging for school-related internet use.
- Responsible Use Policy (RUP): Students are required to follow ZIS's Responsible Use Policy (see Secondary Handbook), which governs the ethical and appropriate use of technology.
- ZIS does not monitor student-owned devices outside of school. To help manage internet safety at home, we recommend reaching out to your internet service provider (e.g., Sunrise, Swisscom) for parental control options, such as content filtering and usage monitoring, which can be set up directly on your home router.
Other Practical Considerations
- How will students access the internet at school?
- How will charging be managed?
- How will students store and share their work?
- How will access to applications be ensured for all students?
- What happens if a student forgets their device?
- How will students print?