BYOL (bring your own laptop) refers to students bringing their own portable device to school for use in class and with classroom curriculum. The BYOL model is used by the majority of colleges and allows Serra families/students a device which best meets their individual personal and financial needs.

Teachers use a combination of tools in the classroom to achieve learning objectives. Conventional classroom tools (i.e. paper, pencils and print books) are still used in addition to eTextbooks, conducting research online, creating online projects and presentations, and collaborating with students and teachers online.

G Suite for Education is a suite of web-based educational collaboration tools used by Serra and the majority of colleges throughout the United States. G Suite includes: Google Mail, Google Drive, Google Sites, Google Classroom, etc. Each Serra student is provided and expected to use a school G Suite for Education account. G Suite for Education is Serra’s primary platform for teaching and communication.

Any portable device that meets the minimum portable device requirements is acceptable.

Through experience we have found that some devices more effectively support eTextbooks and the G Suite for Education Suite.

• Apple/Macbook
• Dell 2020 or newer laptop 
• Lenovo
• Asus
• Acer
• Android tablet

Although iPads meet our minimum portable device requirements, we have found them to have some issues with activities/applications teachers commonly use in the classroom. Students have experienced difficulty creating new documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in Google Apps, print formatting when using Google Cloud Print, and correctly displaying text layout and videos in eTextbooks.

Student devices must meet the established minimum battery life requirements. Students are expected to have their device fully charged at the start of each school day. A student who comes to school with a dead battery or without their device is just as unprepared as a student who forgets his book or pencil.

Note: Some laptop computers may require an additional charged, changeable, battery to meet the minimum battery life requirement to last through the school day.

It is the responsibility of the parent and student to maintain their own device and/or have their own device repaired if necessary. The IT Department is available in the Tech Center to provide portable device technical advice.

Yes. Temporary loaner devices may be issued at Serra’s Tech Center. The loaner device will provide web access so students can retrieve and use online resources and documents. It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his academic work is not disrupted during the repair of his device. It is recommended that students regularly back up their work. (Please note: Parents are responsible for any damage or loss of a loaner device.)

Since students will bring their own personal device, they are expected to be familiar with the operation of that device. Serra faculty and staff members will assist students and show them how to use web tools required for class activities, collaboration and projects.

When students connect to the internet at school, inappropriate content is filtered. Parents are responsible for monitoring their son’s internet use at home.

We have a knowledgeable, well-staffed Technology Department at Serra. The Tech Center is available to students 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. daily. Click here for specific questions regarding student portable devices.