BYOD
BYOD, or Bring Your Own Device, is an increasingly popular idea to use in schools as a way of giving access to technology without purchasing a device for each student. BYOD offers students an opportunity to participate in personalized learning, immediate technology integration, and school can concentrate their funds to provide devices to students in need. However, there are many concerns with implementing BYOD in schools. BYOD taxes schools bandwidth and infrastructure with the amount of bandwidth being used by personal devices, much if which will be unavoidably used for personal apps and not educational purposes. Another obstacle for BYOD is compatibility issues. Many Apple products are not compatible with any other devices Also, many devices are not equipped for use in the classroom, which will cause an issue due to the variety of devices students may bring for use.
PROS:
I think using technology in the classroom is an excellent way to add variety and engagement to the classroom environment. There are so many tools that present information in a variety of ways as opposed to textbook work, which I think is very limited. Students also prefer BYOD in the classroom, with 3 out of 4 students who prefer tablets over textbooks, 2 in 3 prefer to use their own devices for learning. However, only 37% of teachers will switch to digital textbooks in the next 1-5 years (PBS Learning Media, 2019). Studies have found that most of generation Y prefer to connect wirelessly and communicate through social media. Due to these statistics, it is logical to conclude that BYOD in classrooms will allow students to communicate in a familiar and preferred way, which will affect learning. Many educators are against BOYD and technology in the classroom because it is considered a distraction. However, due to the increasing familiarity and increasing demand for technology, it must be accepted into the classroom environment. Students using their devices for personal use during class or being distracted is a common argument against BYOD, but the possibilities for students to learn in better and more engaging ways is a greater benefit.
Managing BYOD in the classroom can be an issue, however there are many ways to effectively implement BYOD and minimize distractions. Establishing clear rules for device use can help students understand boundaries when using their own devices. Another way is to walk around the classroom, checking on each student and their activities. If problems persist, the teacher should speak with the student privately and discuss ways to positively affect their behavior going forward.
This is a positive trend for teachers' professional development and students who have a personal interest in technology. For my 10th grade art lesson on basic shapes in art, I used an interactive presentation that students could access on their phone with PearDeck. Students' responses were store in the app, which made it easy for me to review. Students could draw on the slides and enter text to answer questions. They were able to trace certain aspects of painting in the slide, identifying different shapes that were meaningful in the overall completion of the work. The students were much more engaged, and when I gave a quiz on the presentation the next class day, they easily retained the information. Unfortunately, these types of lesson plans are no longer allowed, due to changes in the BYOD policies. Many of my students only know how to use social media on their phones. I often have to explain how to send an email from their phone or how to store photos of their work in specific folders on their devices. I think the integration of technology in schools will teach students not only about the content of lessons, but how to use their devices for a multitude of other tasks. Students need to learn that devices are not only for entertainment, but are capable of many tasks that will help them organize their daily activity and many other basic needs.
References
K-12 Blueprint: BYOD. (2019) Retrieved from https://www.k12blueprint.com/toolkits/byod
Clifford, Mirriam. (October 2012) Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): 10 Reasons Why It's a Good Idea. Retrieved from https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/other/bring-your-own-device-byod-10-reasons-why-its-a-good-idea/
Scapin, Raphael. (October 2017) How to Manage a Classroom with the BYOD Approach. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/rscapin/how-to-manage-a-classroom-with-the-byod-approach/53-Classroom_Management_TheoriesStudent_Directed_Learning
PROS:
- Students and teachers can use familiar devices to complete tasks.
- BYOD saves companies and schools money by allowing people to use devices they already have.
- Students and teaching will likely remember to bring devices if they enjoy using them.
- Students stay engaged and take control of their own learning.
- The technology that students and teachers own are more likely to be cutting edge.
CONS:
- Students may forget to bring their chargers.
- Students and teachers may not be able to afford these devices.
- Students may be easily distracted while working on their own devices.
- Applications and tools may not be universal across all platforms.
- Getting everyone's devices to work together can be difficult. (Scapin 2017)
I think using technology in the classroom is an excellent way to add variety and engagement to the classroom environment. There are so many tools that present information in a variety of ways as opposed to textbook work, which I think is very limited. Students also prefer BYOD in the classroom, with 3 out of 4 students who prefer tablets over textbooks, 2 in 3 prefer to use their own devices for learning. However, only 37% of teachers will switch to digital textbooks in the next 1-5 years (PBS Learning Media, 2019). Studies have found that most of generation Y prefer to connect wirelessly and communicate through social media. Due to these statistics, it is logical to conclude that BYOD in classrooms will allow students to communicate in a familiar and preferred way, which will affect learning. Many educators are against BOYD and technology in the classroom because it is considered a distraction. However, due to the increasing familiarity and increasing demand for technology, it must be accepted into the classroom environment. Students using their devices for personal use during class or being distracted is a common argument against BYOD, but the possibilities for students to learn in better and more engaging ways is a greater benefit.
Managing BYOD in the classroom can be an issue, however there are many ways to effectively implement BYOD and minimize distractions. Establishing clear rules for device use can help students understand boundaries when using their own devices. Another way is to walk around the classroom, checking on each student and their activities. If problems persist, the teacher should speak with the student privately and discuss ways to positively affect their behavior going forward.
This is a positive trend for teachers' professional development and students who have a personal interest in technology. For my 10th grade art lesson on basic shapes in art, I used an interactive presentation that students could access on their phone with PearDeck. Students' responses were store in the app, which made it easy for me to review. Students could draw on the slides and enter text to answer questions. They were able to trace certain aspects of painting in the slide, identifying different shapes that were meaningful in the overall completion of the work. The students were much more engaged, and when I gave a quiz on the presentation the next class day, they easily retained the information. Unfortunately, these types of lesson plans are no longer allowed, due to changes in the BYOD policies. Many of my students only know how to use social media on their phones. I often have to explain how to send an email from their phone or how to store photos of their work in specific folders on their devices. I think the integration of technology in schools will teach students not only about the content of lessons, but how to use their devices for a multitude of other tasks. Students need to learn that devices are not only for entertainment, but are capable of many tasks that will help them organize their daily activity and many other basic needs.
References
K-12 Blueprint: BYOD. (2019) Retrieved from https://www.k12blueprint.com/toolkits/byod
Clifford, Mirriam. (October 2012) Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): 10 Reasons Why It's a Good Idea. Retrieved from https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/other/bring-your-own-device-byod-10-reasons-why-its-a-good-idea/
Scapin, Raphael. (October 2017) How to Manage a Classroom with the BYOD Approach. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/rscapin/how-to-manage-a-classroom-with-the-byod-approach/53-Classroom_Management_TheoriesStudent_Directed_Learning
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