STACK #195 Jan 2021

TECH LIFE

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1 Check with your school and determine the student technology policy, as all schools will differ. Often, each school will have a prerequisite for the type of technology that is required, so before you splash the cash on a $1500 laptop, ensure that it’s compatible with the school. 2 Work to a budget and more importantly, make sure you stick to it. Look to where you can save money – what is essential for 2021; is there anything that can wait until next year? And aim to buy devices that are future- proofed. 3 Ensure that you have suitable parental control systems in place. Well known internet browsers have filters and security options in place for you to utilise. 4 It’s essential to have an that protects against viruses, malware and identity theft. 5 Many schools will have a safety policy surrounding charging devices (and it can be expensive, too), so opt for a device with a battery that will last the day. 6 You can never have enough STACK’s top tips for back to school excellent security solution installed on your devices storage in your devices. 7 You’ve seen the way your kids behave with their possessions around the house – now multiply that by ten while they’re at school. Investing in a good protective case or bag for their device is absolutely essential. 8 Utilise a good cloud-based organisational tool so you – and your kids – can stay abreast of all upcoming important dates, meetings and deadlines.

I t’s the time that most kids dread and most parents look to with a little relief in mind – back to school. Today’s digital kids have a little more to consider when returning to the classroom than their parents did – with technology such a key focus it’s important to know exactly what is required for the school year, especially when there’s such a financial commitment at stake. With this in mind, we’ve dug deep and compiled an extensive back to school guide highlighting what’s available, stripping out the often confusing tech jargon and presenting the basics in layman's terms. So whether your student is still early into their schooling journey or prepping for the final push, you’ll find something for everyone within these pages.

Screening the screen time Children can spend an inordinate amount of time sat in front of a screen, whether for entertainment or education purposes. However, how much screen time is too much screen time? According to the Department of Health, children aged between 5-17 years should “limit sedentary recreational screen time to no more than two hours per day”. Sound impossible? The DoH suggests some recommendations such as not having the TV on in the background during meal times, designate screen-free days, set out a family limit for time on screens, avoid having screens in bedrooms, and try not to let your kids see you spend lots of time sat in front of the TV; lead by example. School of the Air Long before the rise of the internet, students in remote and outback areas of Australia attended classes conducted by radio. The first ‘School of the Air’ lessons were sent from the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Alice Springs in June, 1951. Classes typically ran for one hour a day with each student receiving either group of individual lessons from the teacher via conventional radio.

Screen Addicts A poll conducted by The Royal

Children’s Hospital Melbourne found that 94 per cent of Australian teenagers and 67 per cent of primary school-aged children possess their own screen device. On average, six to 13-year-olds spend an average of 31.5 hours of screen time per week, while 13 to 18-year-olds spend 43.6 hours per week in front of a screen

JANUARY 2021

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