Computer Info

As of the Fall of 2010, all grade 9 students at C.C.H.S. have been required to come to school with a laptop computer (netbook).This guide is not intended as definitive list of software that can be loaded on the machines but software which will meet your son/daughterÂ’s learning needs.The netbook which you purchase for your son/daughter will come with all the software you will need to purchase for their learning needs.Other software will be either web 2.0 ( Cloud Based) or open source.Please check back with this website for regular software updates regarding this initiative.

Which operating system is required for my daughter/son's netbook?

Many of these netbooks come with Windows operating system installed (either Xp or Windows 7). Try to pick a device that comes with an operating system you are comfortable with.This is especially important if the system should completely crash and require a rebuilding of the operating system.The operating system itself will not be an issue for you to meet your learner outcomes as the software required for your school work will run on Windows or Mac OS (there are currently no Mac netbooks on the market.A MacOs would require a laptop). Clicking on the images below will redirect you to it's designated website. 

AntiVirus Protection

Productivity Tools 

Open Office 
Word Processor,Spreadsheet,Presentation Tools

iTunes 
Useful for playing podcasts and accessing free open source course ware such as iTunes U offering free courses from big name universities such as Stanford,Harvard,UBC and from educational institutes in Alberta)

Pencil
Pencil is an animation/drawing software for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux. It lets you create traditional hand-drawn animation (cartoon) using both bitmap and vector graphics. Pencil is free and open source.

Firefox 
This Browser is recommended for use with our Learning Management System - Moodle

This section includes Frequently Asked Questions with regard to the grade nine 1 to 1 computing initiative for the Fall of 2010.If you have a question or concern which is not addressed in this section (or site ) please feel free to contact

Chris Rogers or Ken Symington

Q. Where can I purchase a Netbook in the Bow Valley?

A.  Bow Valley Basics would like to make the purchase of this new educational tool (netbooks) as easy as possible for grade 9 students entering CCHS. Please view the attached PDF to take advantage of the educational pricing or to sign up for the layaway program learn how you can take advantage of this offer. Bow Valley Basics Offer from 2010-11 school year will still be honoured.

Q: Will I need to purchase other software or hardware for my notebook?

A: NO.The netbook which you purchase for your son/daughter will come with all the software you will need to purchase for their learning needs.Other software will be either web 2.0 ( Cloud Based) or open source.Please check back with the software list on our website for regular software updates regarding this initiative.

Q: Why is good battery life an important consideration when selecting a notebook for school?

A: First and foremost the battery life is the most important feature to consider when buying a mobile device since there will be limited places in the school to securely charge your device.  Typical netbooks come advertised with 3-cell or 6-cell batteries, but the more important number is the Milliamp Hour (mAh). mAh is important because it's the easiest way to determine the strength or capacity of a battery. The higher the mAh, the longer the battery will last.  Look for a battery rated at 4400 mAh or higher.The 6 cell battery should meet your computing needs for the school day.With a 3 cell battery you will find that you will need to plug in your machine before the day is done.

Q: Is the operating system a consideration when selecting a netbook?

A. Many of these netbooks come with Windows operating system installed (either Xp or Windows 7). Try to pick a device that comes with an operating system you are comfortable with.This is especially important if the system should completely crash and require a rebuilding of the operating system.The operating system itself will not be an issue for you to meet your learner outcomes as the software required for your school work will run on Windows or Mac OS.

Q: Is a wireless network card a consideration when purchasing a netbook?

A: Your device will not only be connecting to your home network, but it will be connecting to the school's wireless network.  To connect to the school's wireless network you must have a wireless network card that is capable of at least 802.11 b/g wireless capability (802.11 a/g/n would be the preferred card). (Most laptops and all netbooks, and i-Touch/i-Phones come with 802.11b/g wireless network cards.) 

Q: Is storage capacity a consideration when purchasing a netbook?

A: Student-owned wireless devices will be able to connect to the school's wireless network; however, the devices will not have access to school file servers and printer shares (i.e. you will NOT have access to a network drive to store your files).  While most netbooks usually come with a reasonably sized hard drive (250 + GB) ,storage size is not a major concern as most school work can be created/saved with an online suite of tools (Google Apps Education Edition ) and stored on the web.You will also be issued a 512Mb - 1Gb USB thumb drive to store files.Regardless of the size of the internal hard drive which comes with your computer, it is a good idea to keep a copy of your important files backed up either on a web server or external storage device in case you lose the information on your netbook is damaged or lost.

Q: How much memory should my netbook have?

A: The amount of memory is a moving target and depends mostly on 4 things: (1). the Operating System chosen (Windows and Macintosh operating system uses more than the Linux variants), (2). the virus protection suite chosen, and (3). the kind of applications you are running, and (4). the number of applications running simultaneously. As a general rule, netbooks come with ~ 1Gb of RAM , which is more than adequate for the applications you will need to run for school work.

In the Fall of 2010, C.C.H.S. began the implementation of 1 to 1 student access to computers. Since the Fall of 2010, all grade 9 students at C.C.H.S. are required to come to school with a laptop (netbook) computer.We feel it is important for students to have flexible access to the tools they need to create, share and communicate their ideas across curriculum and enable them to make connections between the way they learn and what they need to learn. A true community of learners can only thrive across curriculum and grade level if the tools and infrastructure are in place. By providing a place for students to find and express their voice they will connect with their learning. 

Please check back with this website for regular updates on information regarding this initiative.

Literature Review from Alberta Learning

As of the Fall of 2010, all grade 9 students at C.C.H.S. are required to come to school with a laptop computer (netbook).This guide is not intended as definitive list of portable computer devices but rather some exemplars of machines which meet minimum specifications for your son/daughterÂ’s learning needs.

Check My System

If you already have a machine for your Son/Daughter to use, please visit this website to run the computer check for recommended hardware and plugin updates.Some of the resources on this site require plug-ins or players that may not be installed on your system. The Check My System feature will:

• Find out if your computer has the necessary plug-ins and players installed.
• Provide links to free downloads that will ensure you can use all of our resources.
• Check my computer

Technical Specifications

This page lists the current Plugins and Players specified by Alberta Learning as minimum requirements needed to access Learning Resources supplied by Alberta Learning. 

• Check technical Specifications

Where can I purchase a Netbook in the Bow Valley?

Bow Valley Basics would like to make the purchase of this new educational tool (netbooks) as easy as possible for grade 9 students entering CCHS.Please view the attached PDF to take advantage of the educational pricing or to sign up for the layaway program learn how you can take advantage of this offer. Bow Valley Basics Offer from 2010-11 school year will still be honoured. 

Netbook/Laptop Models which will meet your learning needs.* These models are exemplars of machines that will meet your learning needs and not the only machines which will work for you.These machines are all in the $250 -$400 price range. Exact pricing is difficult as pricing is a moving target in the computer sector.

Acer Aspire One 10.1" Netbook featuring Intel Atom N570 Processor (AOD257-1907) - Black

The Aspire One AOD257 delivers ultimate performance in one lightweight and ultra compact body. The Intel Atom N570 Dual-Core processor, 1GB of RAM, and 250GB of hard drive capacity let you do more at lightning speeds and with lower power consumption. The 10.1" crystal clear display is LED backlit, providing an energy-saving and optimized web browsing experience wherever you go.

HP Mini 10.1" Netbook featuring Intel Atom
N2600 Processor (110-4100CA) - Black

Small, slim and stylish, the HP Mini 110 makes staying on the go incredibly easy. An Intel Atom processor, 1GB DDR3 system memory, and Intel Graphics Media Accelerator chipset power this little device so you can work anywhere. The 10.1" WSVGA anti-glare widescreen shows off all your content in crystal clear clarity.

HP Pavilion DM1-3245CA,
Bilingual Laptop AMD E-350 11.6-in.
HD LED,4 GB, 640 GB AMD
Radeon™ HD 6310 
Microsoft® Windows® 7 Home Premium

Reliable mobility at a great price. An ultra mobile notebook you can afford. Light enough to take anywhere and small enough to slip into your favourite handbag or carrying case, the HP Pavilion dm1 Notebook PC gives you all-day computing at home and on the go.