Thank you for participating in the Hillsmeade Primary BYOD program. This guide is designed to help you set up your child’s MacBook with the necessary software for a successful and engaging educational experience. Before you begin, ensure your MacBook is connected to the internet and has sufficient storage space available for these applications.

Step 1: Preparing Your MacBook

  • Update macOS: Ensure your MacBook is running the latest version of macOS. Click on the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen, select ‘About This Mac’, and click ‘Software Update’. If any updates are available, follow the prompts to install.
  • Apple ID: Make sure you have your Apple ID and password ready. You’ll need these to download apps from the App Store. If your child is under 13, you might consider setting up Family Sharing. However, ensure that your child has full access to their device during school times. 

Step 2: Installing Microsoft 365 (Teams, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)

  1. Visit the Office for Mac download page: Go to office.com and sign in with your child’s school-provided Microsoft 365 account.
  2. Download Microsoft 365: After signing in, you should see an option to install Office. Click it and follow the prompts to download the installer package.
  3. Install the apps: Open the downloaded package and follow the installation process for Microsoft Teams, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Step 3: Installing iMovie

iMovie is typically pre-installed on MacBooks, but if it isn’t:

  1. Open the App Store on your MacBook.
  2. Search for iMovie and click ‘Get’ to download and install it.
  3. Open iMovie to ensure it’s installed correctly.

Step 4: Installing Minecraft Education

  1. Visit the Minecraft Education Edition download page: Navigate to education.minecraft.net/get-started/download/.
  2. Download Minecraft for Mac: Click on the Mac version to download the installer.
  3. Install and sign in: Open the downloaded file and drag Minecraft Education Edition into your Applications folder. Launch it and sign in with your child’s school Microsoft 365 account.

Step 5: Installing Sketchbook

  1. Open the App Store on your MacBook.
  2. Search for Autodesk Sketchbook and click ‘Get’ to download and install it.
  3. Open Sketchbook to ensure it’s installed correctly.

Step 6: Installing NAP Lockdown Browser (Year 5 students only)

  1. Navigate to the official NAP Lockdown Browser download page provided by your school or the national assessment program. https://www.assessform.edu.au/naplan-online/locked-down-browser#-downloads-
  2. Download the installer and open it from your Downloads folder.
  3. Follow the installation prompts to install the NAP Lockdown Browser.
  4. Test the Browser: Open the NAP Lockdown Browser to ensure it’s installed correctly. You may not need to sign in unless specified by the school or the test guidelines.

General Tips:

  • Administrator Access: You may need administrator rights on the MacBook to install some applications.
  • Check Storage: Ensure you have enough storage available before starting the installations. You can check this under ‘About This Mac’ > ‘Storage’.
  • Regular Updates: Keep all installed software updated for the best performance and security.

Need Help?

If you encounter any issues or have questions regarding the software installation, please do not hesitate to contact Hardev Singh at hardev.singh@education.vic.gov.au.