BYOD

Last year my school system implemented BYOD.  It was very scary, and we did not have any trainings or support to help us implement it.  When I first started teaching, teachers were told that their cell phones were to be turned off and out of sight!  (And I am NOT old!)  Wow!  What a change!  We were not allowed to even have our cell phones out, and now kids can walk up and down the hallways on their phones and bring them into our classrooms?!  Now, do not get me wrong, I love technology, but the drastic change all at once was a little overwhelming!  In this blog, I will discuss my research on BYOD and offer some insight on how to manage it.

Explain BYOD and the pros and cons of implementing BYOD.

BYOD stands for Bring Your Own Device.  Students are asked to bring whatever form of technology they have access to and use it for learning activities in the classroom.  One obvious pro to BYOD is that school districts will not have to pay for the devices.  That is a huge expense saved by the district.  They also do not have to pay to maintain and update them.  That also saves salaries of people to maintain and update them.  Students are also already familiar with their devices, so the learning curve of learning a new device is not present.  These devices are precious to the students so they probably won't forget them.  There are also cons to implementing BYOD.  If BYOD is not implemented correctly, devices can be a major distraction in the classroom.  Students can be checking Facebook or texting more than learning the intended content.  All these added devices can also overload the network.

State your opinion for using BYOD in your school (if you aren’t currently teaching, chose a school where you have taught or wish to in the future) and defend your position with specifics.

BYOD can be a game-changer in the classroom if managed correctly.  Technology in the classroom brings current, up-to-date research to the palm of student's hands.  The Internet will always be more up-to-date than textbooks.  Students also learn to evaluate sources.  Finding valid, reliable information is an important life skill.  BYOD can also keep students engaged and organized.  Many teachers are apprehensive about allowing devices in their classroom.  I do not think BYOD will be a problem, unless the teacher had problems before.  I believe teachers must be good classroom managers without devices to be good classroom managers with devices.  I do not think a whole new management system is necessary for implementing BYOD.  A student cyber-bullying another student is the same thing as a student bullying verbally.  A student texting during class is the same misbehavior as passing a note.  A student playing a game is simply off-task.  A device that isn't charged is not being prepared for class just like not having a book, paper, or pencil.  A clear understanding of what is acceptable, what is not, and clear consequences is vital.  I also think it is important for everyone to be on the same page from the superintendent down.  

If smartphones are here to stay, what are some ways to manage the BYOD classroom?

I would start by having clear expectations and consequences.  As I stated earlier, any misbehavior with technology is the same type of misbehavior without technology:  bullying is bullying, off-task behavior is off-task behavior.  A good classroom manager with good supportive administration will not have a problem implementing technology into his or her classroom.  I do however believe that one consequence that I would not use unless under extreme situations is to take the device away from the student.  The device is a learning tool in the classroom.  Would you take a textbook away from a child?  If not, you should not take away any other learning too such as technology.  The first offense might be a warning, second offense results in silent lunch, and the third offense could be an office referral.  Your classroom management system does not have to change to implement BYOD.

What does this emerging trend mean for digital equity and lower performing schools and the teachers who teach there? Give ideas for how they can be supported and how they can respond – choose a subject area and grade level to consider.

Digital equity is a real problem.  Not every student will have access to a device.  Some kids will have the latest laptop; some will have an outdated iPod.  Student learning is the goal here, but we have to be able to learn without hurting student's feelings for not having the latest technology or not being able to afford it at all.  You may also have parents that are not comfortable with their children bringing these expensive devices to school.  Helping to inform parents of your BYOD policies and educating them on expectations and intended outcomes may put the parents at ease to let their kids participate with their devices.  Cooperative learning is an option when all students do not have access to a device.  It is imperative that schools have backup devices for students that do not have a device though.  Putting a device in all students' hands will help ensure they are engaged.  This will help lower performing schools.  There are a lot of ways schools can get money to provide devices as well.  Grants are a great way to fund this problem.  Title schools might also have some options for funding as well.  Our district has put a teacher in a technology facilitator position.  This has been a great addition to help support teachers in implementing technology in their classrooms.  I teach six grade science.  My coworkers and I collaborate daily and help each other.  If I find a website I would like to try, I set up an account and my coworker accesses it as a student.  That allows us both to see the program from both the student's perspective and the teacher's.  A support system is imperative to success!  No one can do this by themselves.

What does this trend mean for teachers professional development and personal interest in technology?

When my district implemented BYOD, we were not offered any training or professional development.  I truly believe that technology is something that a lot of teachers are not comfortable with and are in need of much support.  Professional development should be offered to help support these teachers.  Their jobs are hard enough, help in implementing BYOD may be the reason it succeeds.  I visited a school district this past summer where all professional development was done in house.  If the principal saw a teacher implementing something, that teacher was asked to help others.  These teachers were also paid a stipend in the summer to collaborate and design lessons and assessments together to present digitally.  As the teacher gets more comfortable with using the technology, I think his or her personal interest in technology will increase.

If students don’t learn to use mobile devices for activities beyond entertainment (such as learning), are they prepared for the world of work in the future?
If students are not learning how to use their devices beyond entertainment, then no, they are not being prepared for the future.  I think giving students the power and knowledge to unleash the power of their device beyond social media and entertainment is very beneficial for being prepared to live in the world in which we do.  Seeing a mobile device in a way other than a social media tool is a way to open the minds of students to what they really are capable of doing.