Technical support
Students at Sydney Distance Education High School use a wide range of digital technologies to support and enhance their learning.
This page contains advice on purchasing a suitable device, instructions for accessing free software and help guides for a variety of common tasks.
Student portal
The NSW Department of Education Student portalis essential for all of our students. It has links to student email, school online learning platforms (Canvas and elearning), school library, Microsoft 365, Google apps and much more.
Usernames and passwords are sent out to all new students, but you can contact any teacher to retrieve your username or reset your password.
Watch the video on how to get started or follow these instructions.
Accessing the student portal (PDF 1.1MB)
Computer buying guide
Access to a reliable computer is an important part of life as a distance education student. For home use, students are encouraged to purchase a device that best suits their needs, circumstances and budget. The buying guide below sets out some minimum standards and recommendations to consider before making a purchase.
Laptops are a popular choice for students due to their portability, although desktop machines are of course suitable for home use. Please avoid tablets, Chromebooks and gaming devices as they don't provide the same functionality as a full operating system.
Many suppliers offer educational discounts. It's worth asking in order to get the best possible price.
Aim for a device that meets the recommended minimum standards mentioned in this list:
Operating system
- Windows: Windows 11 or later is recommended.
- Mac: macOS 12 (Monterey) or later.
Wireless
For school and remote learning, it’s essential to have a fast and reliable internet connection:
- Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) or Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) support is recommended. Wi-Fi 6 offers faster speeds and better performance in crowded environments.
Look for these terms in the specs:
- Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6.
- Gigabit Wireless.
Form factor
- Laptop vs Desktop: Laptops are still the most popular due to their portability. A desktop is a better choice for those who do most of their work at home and want a bigger screen, more powerful specs, or better upgrades.
- Keyboard: Always opt for a device with a physical keyboard, as on-screen touchpads can slow you down over time.
- Screen size: Ideally, choose a screen size between 13” to 16”. A screen under 13” can be too cramped for long sessions, while anything larger than 16” might be cumbersome to carry around.
- Weight: Aim for a laptop under 4 lbs (1.8 kg) for easy portability, especially if you plan to carry it to campus frequently.
Memory and storage
- RAM: 8GB of RAM is the sweet spot for most students. If you plan to run multiple applications at once, use software like Adobe Creative Cloud, or do a lot of multitasking, consider upgrading to 16GB of RAM.
- Storage: Opt for an SSD (Solid State Drive) with at least 128GB of storage for faster load times and better reliability. If you need more space, consider 512GB or 1TB SSD.
Battery life
- Laptop battery life: Aim for at least 6-8 hours of battery life, as a longer battery life will help you through long days at school or in the library. Some high-end models even offer up to 12+ hours, depending on usage.
- Fast charging: Look for laptops with fast charging capabilities, which can give you a 50% charge in under an hour.
Extras
- Webcam: A built-in HD webcam (720p or 1080p) is a must for virtual classes and meetings.
- Headset with microphone: Especially for remote learning and video calls.
- USB Ports: Ensure your device has at least 2-3 USB ports, preferably including a USB-C port for faster data transfer and charging.
- Bluetooth 5.0 or later: For wireless accessories (headphones, keyboard, mouse, etc.).
Optional extras
- Touchscreen (for 2-in-1 laptops or tablets): Great if you want more flexibility and enjoy annotating or drawing directly on your screen.
Software
- Microsoft 365: Free for students, providing access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and more.
- Adobe Creative Cloud: Free for students, with access to creative software like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro (for specific lectures).
- Web browser: Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge are both excellent choices for browsing. Mozilla Firefox is another great option.
Computer use when visiting our school or learning hub
When students visit our school or learning hubs they are welcome to use school computers and laptops. However, students may also bring their own device. In this case, they will be subject to the Department of Education’s filtered internet service and our Student use of Digital Devices and Online Services Procedures (370 KB) which is signed on enrolment.
Students who bring their own devices to school are responsible for the care and maintenance of their devices. Please be aware that SDEHS can only offer basic technical support during school visits to troubleshoot Wi-Fi connections.
Software
All NSW Department of Education students have access to a range of software to support their learning. Find out how you can access some of these tools.
Students can simply sign in to Microsoft 365 with their Department of Education email address to access online versions of Microsoft Office applications and a generous OneDrive cloud storage account.
Microsoft 365 desktop apps are also completely free for NSW school students. Follow the steps below to install them on either Mac or PC.
- Go to https://www.office.com/
- If it is already signed in as someone else, choose Switch to a different account.
- Click Sign in.
- Enter your Department of Education email address – the one that ends in @education.nsw.gov.au. This is important or it won't be free.
- You will be redirected to the Department of Education login page. Log in.
- Click Yes to stay signed in. Your Microsoft 365 page will open.
- Click Install Microsoft 365.
- An executable file will be downloaded to your computer.
- Follow the prompts to complete the installation.
- Once Microsoft 365 has finished installing, open up one of the applications and accept the license agreement.
- You can install Microsoft 365 on up to 5 devices.
Adobe Express is a simplified version of Adobe’s Creative Suite, enabling document, video and webpage creation in an easy-to-use format. It also has some PDF functionality.
This suite of tools is free to use for all department of education students. It can be accessed from the student portal.
For more information about how to log in and additional resources access the T4L Adobe Express page.
Adobe Creative Cloud
Adobe Creative Cloud is a suite of professional digital media applications including Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, Muse and InDesign.
Student licences will only be available for students in Year 8 to 12 on a needs basis only.
Contact your teacher if you need the full Adobe Creative Cloud for your classwork.
If you already have an account you can Log in to Adobe Creative Cloud using your school email address.
Have a question for our support teams?
Technical support
Contact this number if your question relates to hardware or software.
elearning support
Contact this number if your question relates to using elearning or Canvas.
Online learning
At Sydney Distance Education High School we use a range of platforms and modes to deliver learning content to meet student needs.
Student and supervisor information handbooks
Our handbooks help students and supervisors understand how our school works.