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Recommendations for ALL SBA home learning (Yellow through Red Phases)
- High Speed Internet Service - at least 20 MB (preferred provider is EPB due to strength and reliability)
- Quality Network Router - AC and gaming routers work best for most education and video conferencing applications
- Dedicated Space - as much as possible, all specific space for learning each day
- Dedicated Computer Resources - See below per grade levels
Technology at Home for K-7th Grade
SBA K-7th on campus students are NOT required to have a dedicated computer for their coursework (not 1:1 grade levels), HOWEVER, this becomes a need when parents have/need students work from home.
Recommended computer equipment:
- Desktop or laptop computer for coursework
AND
- iPad or iPhone (android phones or tablets as well) for conferencing
This equipment allows the student to use their computer for notes, activities and content while also seeing conferences, videos and meetings. If you have to choose one, please choose the computer. If you need to use an iPad, please get a keyboard (bluetooth or case version).
Technology at Home for 8th-12th Grade
Essentially students need the same equipment as students are required to have for On Campus coursework with the following adaptations:
8th-9th - laptops not iPads
- Laptops allow split screens, multiple app use and the display of content
MUCH easier for home learning
- Consider an additional monitor for conferences, videos and meetings
10th-12th - additional screen
- Consider an additional monitor for conferences, videos and meetings
- Laptop/desktop screen can then used for notes or content creation
MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air
Apple laptops are durable and user friendly. They are also fully compatible with iOS apps for parental functionality. The only drawback as an educational device is the price, based on potential obsolescence as younger students progress. Several hundred dollars can be saved by purchasing used or refurbished devices.
Here are our recommendations:
Target Price: $800-$1200 and up
Processor: Intel Core i5 or better
Screen size: 13inch or higher
Camera (720p generally standard these days, but check)
RAM: 8GB or more
Storage: 256GB or more solid-state drive (SSD or NVME); worth the $
2 USB ports; 1 USB-C;
HDMI video output
Chrome Browser (user installed) to easily access Google features
Nice to have: Touchscreen
Chromebooks
Chromebooks have become very popular in the last few years, and capabilities have been significantly enhanced. Thus, prices have been trending upward to the point that some are as expensive as low-to-medium priced PC laptops. Chromebooks are entirely cloud-based, using Google Chrome Browser as the “operating system.” They use the suite of Google Apps, such as Drive (Docs, Sheets, Slides), Google Meet, Gmail, Photos, YouTube, and many more. Newer models are also compatible with Android apps. (Many schools use them for their base platform, because they can be configured and managed through G-Suite as a group for security. SBA does NOT use G-Suite to manage Chromebooks.)
Although compatible with most apps and functions needed for virtual learning, parents should weigh the cost/benefit/simplicity of the Chromebook vs. a PC laptop for $150-200 more.
Because Chromebooks do not have user-installed programs, they need less local storage and less RAM than a normal PC or laptop. Many are tablet-style (360 degree “foldable”) and have touchscreens.
Here are our recommendations:
Target price: $250-$450
Screen size: at least 10 inch--14 inch better
Camera (should be standard on all)
RAM: At least 4 GB
Internal storage: At least 64 GB
Processor: Intel Celeron; AMD A4 or better
Nice to have: Tablet style (foldable)
Nice to have: Touchscreen
Brands to consider: Asus, Dell, Google, HP, Lenovo
Windows PC laptop
This market is fiercely competitive, resulting in a host of very capable devices at reasonable prices. The applications needed for a good learning experience at SBA are not extensive...most, in fact are web-based. However, so that your student’s laptop will be useful for the next several years, you will want to have a processor and memory that will accommodate programs, such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Reader, etc.
Here are our recommendations:
Target Price: $400-$650
Processor: Intel Core i5, AMD A6 or Ryzen Gen 5 or better
Screen size: 14inch or 15.6 inch (14” maybe for younger students)
Camera (720p generally standard these days, but check)
RAM: 8GB or more
Internal storage: 256GB or more solid-state drive (SSD or NVME); worth the $
2 USB ports; 1 USB-C;
HDMI video output
Chrome Browser (user installed) to easily access Google features
Nice to have: Tablet style (foldable)
Nice to have: Touchscreen
Brands to consider: Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo
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