The Connected Curriculum - Challenge #2

Educate Yourself on BYOD Programs

Across the country and as educators we are all struggling to deal with an increasingly common scenario in our classrooms - students with hand-held, internet-ready devices. Many have simply given up trying to ban these devices and instead are creating policies that let students use their technology. The school district I am employed at allows iPads, tablets, and Kindles for “reading purposes” only when classroom work is done. Cells phone are strictly prohibited and are only allowed out of lockers before or after school hours.

There is one thing that is very clear to me, and it's that kids love technology. The movement for schools to allow their students to use their devices in class is gaining steam and with very valid arguments.  Free apps can be used to learn how to divide fractions, manage homework, plan schedules, make presentations, research a country or access pocket reference libraries.  Kids now days use their smartphones all the time to look information up, with technology being their number one resource to use at home. To me it is a contradiction that when they walk into school (a learning environment) they are not allowed to use that number one resource.

As I see it, starting a “bring your own device” program comes with its own set of challenges and concerns but can also have distinct advantages as well. 

Challenges

1)   Economic Disadvantage: Not all students have a device and equity becomes an issue. A BYOD program initiates an uneven educational playing field for students.  As stated in What is BYOD and Why Should Teachers Care?, educators worry that implementing a bring your own device program will increase the already significant divide between students from high- and lower-income families. Creating a situation where there is a distinct disadvantage to some kids in the classroom aggravates those issues. There are negative effects on students whose families have fewer resources and it is likely to egg on discrimination or bulling of poorer students.

2)  Discipline Problems: Parents and educators worry that all these devices could create discipline problems. With a quick slide across the screen with their thumb, students can change their screen in an instant. With this ability a main concern among teachers is that the existence of electronic devices in the classroom will only foster distraction on the part of their students(What is a BYOD and Why Should Teachers Care?). I believe that students will get distracted if allowed to - the same as it's always been. One of the big things is engaging kids in the classroom. If kids are engaged and working on a specific task, they do not have time to get distracted. With engagement we get students to focus on learning and not social networking.

3)  Network Security and Compliance: Is the school's network secure and well-protected? Will the students shoot and share inappropriate pictures?  How will effective use policies be managed when students are using personal devices?

4)  Software Issues:  Each device will have that student’s personal preference of software installed making it necessary to give several different types of instructions with assignments.

5)  Teacher Training: Figuring out how to make the class operate with 10 different kinds of devices, can be difficult and frustrating. As stated in the article, BYOD-Worst Idea of the 21st Century?, teachers are required to be tech savvy for whatever range of devices students may bring in. As a technology teacher that is not a problem (most of the time), and I feel that allowing mobile technology in class has an "inevitable march of progress" feel to it. As I see it, we need to work with it and not against it, as going back's not really an alternative anymore.

Advantages

1)  Less Discipline Issues: Some research shows that allowing the devices has actually decreased discipline issues. Teachers state that by allowing devices, and setting aside times where texting is OK, an impressive drop has been seen in so-called pocket texting - or hoodie texting - in class.

2)  Student Engagement: Students rapidly become more interested in the material, and are more likely to succeed. The article, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): Why It's a Good Idea, states that when students bring their own device they are put in a position of power over their learning.

3)  Up To Date Technology: It allows the most applicable use of the most recent technologies in the classroom, since students replace the technology themselves.

4)  Student Ownership: Teachers can use the devices to meet different learning needs. BYOD allows students to have power over their learning. For example, ELL students can use an app to translate information.

5)  Provides New Learning Opportunities:  Educators can teach technology etiquette and ethics, which is becoming progressively more necessary.  Collaboration with other teachers and students becomes easier.

6)  BYOD is becoming the standard in the workplace.  Teaching students to use digital devices has become a necessity.

Summary

As a technology teacher I would embrace the opportunity for every student to use hand held devices.  Unfortunately, the huge economic disadvantage that it produces outweighs any benefits for me. My school district has a high poverty rate and this issue concerns me greatly regarding any implementation of a BYOD program at our school.  When surveying my students I discovered that only 30% own a phone with internet accessibility and only 42% have any type of digital device at all.    What really caught my attention though were the downtrodden eyes when I ask my classes about this as a whole.  I ask for a show of hands but I could tell by individual facial expressions alone who had access to technology and who didn’t. In my opinion, the best way to ensure appropriate technology use is to use devices that are school owned and managed.  This is an issue with the tight funding problems our schools are now facing, but BYOD is more likely to intensify problems than fix them. The only way to assure equitable educational encounters is for each student to have access to the same materials and opportunities.  BYOD leaves this to likelihood with more affluent students continuing to have an imbalanced advantage over their peers and therefore does not have my support.

So until tomorrow.......

Collaborate and connect your curriculum!