Friday, March 27, 2015

Today’s Technology Presents Challenges and Opportunities

Dependable access to technology gives teacher the ability to be more productive than ever before, and we have never had so many programs to choose from as are available today: online programs, mobile apps, and activity packs or in-app additions. Until recent years, students would only have access to software and hardware reviewed and purchased by the school or district (Picciano, 2011, p. 189). Teachers and administrators are responsible for ensuring that students are protected and being exposed to high-quality instruction even when they are learning online or using technology. One challenge is to determine how we evaluate free versions of apps and software most effectively to ensure the safety of our students, their content, and their privacy. Not too long ago, a software program sold to a school would have minimal technical support provided and few or no updates over time and usage. Schools may have technology teams in place who are responsible for evaluating and selecting software, but when it comes to classroom devices, this decision can be up to the teacher (p. 190). Before a teacher uses an app or web-based tool with students, it is best to determine if the students are going to have to create an account to register on the site. At the very least teachers need to read the terms of use and privacy policy of the digital tool they plan on having their students use. Because of federal laws many sites require the student to be at least 13 years of age, or they are not allowed to use the site at all. Some websites allow students to create an account with parent permission, but either way the teacher must become familiar with the terms of service.
Image retrieved from http://www.cpschools.com/BYOD/images/byod.jpg  
Since wireless networks are the norm and BYOD is allowed in many schools, the software program options have changed for students.  A student who brings their own device to school can install free and 'freemium' apps to use for reading, research, writing, and other learning activities. To keep up with quickly-changing technology, many schools have adopted a BYOD policy allowing students to bring a personally-owned device. Some districts who previously adopted a one-to-one initiative have found they are difficult to sustain over time. One alternative is to allow students to bring their device and use it for instructional activities and learning. Parents, students, and teachers should all be a part of planning for BYOD and be able to give their input about guidelines and expectations (Davis, 2014). This video gives some insight into why students benefit from BYOD at school.

School leaders must prepare their infrastructure and wireless network to create a way for individually-owned devices to work properly and efficiently. Some schools establish a guest network to allow any device to get on the wireless. Preparing teachers to use BYOD for instruction, assessment, and classroom learning activities is becoming more commonplace (Davis, 2014). The possibilities that come with establishing BYOD in schools can help 21st century schools reach their vision and increase student achievement with proper planning, app and software reviews, professional development, and parent communication.

References


Davis, V. (2014, Feb 4). 6 BYOD discussions every school should have. Retrieved from Edutopia: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/byod-discussions-schools-should-have-vicki-davis

Picciano, A. (2011). Educational leadership and planning for technology. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.


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2 comments:

  1. UnknownMarch 27, 2015 at 2:58 PM

    I think BYOD can be an important thing for reducing the digital divide. Nearly all of my students (high school aged) have smart phones and/or tablet devices in spite of all of them being from low income families. And the phones these days are more capable than desktops were 15-18 years ago.

    Despite this, there are still people who are resistant to the idea. Kelly Walsh gives 5 reasons why she thinks BYOD is a bad idea (http://www.emergingedtech.com/2012/07/5-reasons-why-byod-is-a-bad-idea/): Equipment inequity that leads to students having inconsistent experiences; The technical support nightmare that comes with trying to support a wide range of devices; Bring your own distraction--these devices play games and music and videos and are very sophisticated ways to pass notes; Content filtering is difficult when the phones can bypass the school wi-fi and access anything via 4G; and MBTY (mine is better than yours) syndrome.

    Of course, with the exception of the Tech support problem (which can be mitigated with a simple "you are responsible for supporting your own device" policy), all of the other problems are going to happen even if you don't use the devices in the classroom, because the kids bring them anyway. Since they bring them anyway, you might as well put them to use.

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  2. Bethany SloanMarch 29, 2015 at 2:25 PM

    BYOD is an excellent option for schools to keep up with changing technology. There are several things to consider when implementing BYOD programs. One of course, is infrastructure. It’s important for schools to have enough access points and bandwidth to handle the volume of devices. Another concern is the apps. In the article “Should Schools Embrace ‘Bring Your Own Device’?” printed in NEA Today, the author explains that most BYOD programs require students to sign an agreement stating that they will only use their devices for specific projects during class time (Chadband, 2012). As teachers, we will still need to monitor student use of devices during instruction.

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