Welcome to the Hillsmeade Primary BYOD program! This guide is designed to help you prepare your child’s Windows laptop for the school year by installing essential software. Before you begin, ensure your laptop is connected to the internet and has at least 4GB of free space.
Step 1: Preparing Your Windows Laptop
- Check for updates: Before installing new software, it’s important to have your system up to date. Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates.
- Install antivirus software: Ensure your laptop has antivirus software installed and running. Windows Defender is a good free option that comes built into Windows 10 and later.
Step 2: Installing Google Chrome
- Visit the Google Chrome website: Go to www.google.com/chrome/ in your existing web browser.
- Download Chrome: Click on ‘Download Chrome’ and accept the terms of service. Run the installer once it’s downloaded.
- Follow Installation Prompts: Once installed, open Chrome to ensure it’s working correctly.
Step 3: Installing Microsoft 365 (Teams, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Visit the Microsoft 365 Portal: Open Google Chrome or another web browser and navigate to the Microsoft 365 login page – https://www.office.com.
- Sign in with your child’s school account: Use the credentials provided by Hillsmeade Primary. If you don’t have these, contact the school.
- Install Office apps: Once logged in, you should see an option to install Office on your screen. Click on it and follow the prompts to install Teams, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Step 4: Installing Minecraft Education
- Visit the Minecraft Education Download page: Go to education.minecraft.net/get-started/download/ in your browser.
- Download and Install: Click the Windows version to download. Once downloaded, open the installer and follow the prompts to install Minecraft Education Edition.
- Sign in: Open Minecraft Education and sign in with your child’s school Microsoft 365 account.
Step 5: Installing NAP Lockdown Browser (Year 5 students only)
- Visit the NAP website: 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-
- Download and Install: Click on the Windows version to download the NAP Lockdown Browser. Once downloaded, open the installer and follow the instructions to install.
- 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 Rights: Ensure you have administrator access on the laptop to install software.
- Power Supply: Ensure your laptop is plugged into a power source during installation to prevent it from turning off.
- Regular Updates: Keep all software up to date to ensure security and functionality.
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.