At Branson, we believe that technology should support student learning as seamlessly and efficiently as possible. We believe that a student’s own computer, being a personally customize device, will support this philosophy best.
Device requirements:
- The device must be a laptop (e.g., Macbook Pro) or full-function 2-in-1 device with a built-in full size keyboard (e.g., Microsoft Surface Pro)
- The device must be WiFi capable
- The device needs to come to school fully charged each day and needs to be available to the student for homework in the evening
- The device must be able to work “off-line”, meaning it cannot be a netbook (e.g., Chromebook)
- Students are required to participate in the Branson-sponsored anti-virus program. Software and licenses will be distributed to each student free of charge
- Students are required to have a productivity suite on their device. Options include:
- Google drive – Branson provides this for all faculty, staff and students free of charge. We recommend this option
- Microsoft Office or the Apple Productivity Suite – family is responsible for purchasing these if desired
- OpenOffice – an example of one of several free office-like suites available for download
Device recommendations:
- Although we do not require a certain brand of laptop, as the faculty and staff of Branson use Apple laptops, Apple is recommended
- A robust protective case for the machine that protects against drops and other incidentals. This implies a more rigid case, since a cloth sleeve does little more than prevent against scratches
- A device protection plan covering damage and repairs including screen breaks and liquid damage. Examples include Apple Care and Square Trade
- Very important! The repair costs associated with the two most common types of damage, broken screens and liquid spills, can easily run several times the cost of an insurance plan
- The device should not be more than 3 years old
- An external hard drive or online cloud-based account for backup. This is for the student to store personal files. The Branson Google Drive account is for school-related files
- A 13” screen dimension is recommended as a functional and portable size
On-site Support: We are happy to assist students with their devices to the extent we are able. This includes minor troubleshooting and fine tuning the devices to work with Branson networks and systems.
We are not able to distribute software nor are we able to conduct major repairs or upgrades. We will help facilitate sending machines to the appropriate repair facility and can provide loaner machines to students during that process. (Note: it is the family’s responsibility to cover the costs of any repairs)
We recognize that deciding on the right device can be challenging. If you have any questions or would like any recommendations, please feel free to email or call Justin Culley, (justin_culley@branson.org, 415-455-7214), or Cécile Lelievre, (cecile_lelievre@branson.org, 415-455-7197).
Financial Aid
Families needing financial assistance to participate in the BYOD program will be able to access it based on the following criteria:
School Name