To ensure students have access to the best possible educational outcomes and meet the complex demands of 21st century education, Mareeba SHS transitioned to a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) school from 2024 onwards.
Using devices has multiple benefits to a student's learning, including:
- Communicating with teachers
- Collaborating online in groups
- Handing in homework
- Watching educational videos
- Researching for assignments
- Completing quizzes and exams
Research shows having a personal device provides better educational outcomes for the student. The benefits of our BYOD program include:
- increased student motivation, confidence and engagement with learning because students are familiar with their devices
- greater autonomy in the classroom
- the maturing of students as digital citizens who embrace digital opportunities and responsibilities
- the normalising of technology use between the school and home
- greater opportunity for inter-school collaboration.
(Alberta Government, 2012; Lee, Levins, Hubbard, & Freedman, 2013; Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs, 2008; Nielsen, 2013; Wainwright, 2013; Sweeney, & Intelligent Business Research Services Ltd., 2012)
BYOD does not replace traditional methods of learning, but complement and extend students skills and readiness for 21st century living and employability.
In 2026 Mareeba State High School will be introducing an option for Year 11 and 12 students to access laptops as part of the Student Technology Equity Partnership Program (STEP for short) which is part of the Queensland Government's commitment to narrowing the digital divide and supporting Queensland's students.
To ensure all students have access to essential digital tools for learning Mareeba State High School encourages all students to bring a laptop to school each day. There are two options for Year 11 and 12 students in 2026:
• Option 1 where the student uses their own personally owned device; and
• Option 2 where the student secures a device through the school's STEP Laptop Program
To access a laptop through the STEP laptop program it is important that you read through the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Mareeba State High School document on the MSHS website.
Some important points for the STEP laptop program
• There is no cost for the parent/carer or student for the laptop – students will also be provided with a protective sleeve for the laptop, and the laptop will come with accidental damage protection.
• The school maintains ownership of the STEP laptop throughout its lifespan. This enables the school to manage and maintain the laptop and progress warranty and/or accidental damage protection claims as necessary.
• Before the laptop can be issued, the signed Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Mareeba State High School document must be returned to the school reception A Block.
We look forward to implementing this new initiative next year for our Years 11 and 12 and in 2027 will be looking to expand the program as more laptops become available for Years 9 and 10 students.
Mareeba State High School is proud of this educational step forward for our students.