What is BYOD?

BYOD stands for Bring Your Own Device (sometimes know and Bring Your Own Technology). We are embarking on a journey of trying to integrate students’ own technology into our classrooms, and some of us are excited about the chance to try.

This morning I met with the grade 7 students in Mrs. La Prairie’s room to discuss this idea and to map out how we will proceed with this at Cleveland. Mrs. La Prairie is interested in making use of technology to enhance the learning, and this was one of the ways we thought would be good to try.

The grade 7’s and I discussed that this may mean a change in our school policy on electronic devices, as well as changing the culture of how we adults react when we see students with their cell phones. Rules were brought up, ideas were shared, and I came to the realization that this is going to make more homework for me.

Our discussions generated some questions:

• Texting – Is texting out of class time appropriate? What if my mom texts me while I am in class?
• Videos – Are there videos on our devices that are appropriate for school?
• Music – Can we listen to music during the day? What music is appropriate for school?
• Clocks – Can we use our phones to check the time? Only two of us in the class were wearing a watch (funny how it was the two Dougs in the room). Everyone else uses the phone to check the time.
• Games – Can we use our devices to play games?
• Agenda books – Can cell phones (with calendar features) replace our agenda books for tracking homework?
• Handing in Homework – Can we hand in homework electronically?

Some observations and/or concerns were also discussed:

• Security – Who’s responsibility will it be if the phone goes missing? Sorry, but I cannot own the responsibility. Parents and students will have to decide if they are comfortable bringing them to school.
• Cheating on tests – They understand why teachers would be concerned.
• Equity – Is it fair to allow students to bring in their own devices if not everyone has access to one?
• Adults taking phones away – Sometimes students have their phones taken away when they are seen using the phone (to check time, to use as a mirror). How should students handle this?
• Appropriate Grade levels – We were unsure of what grade levels this would be best for. Would we have a different policy for cell phones than for laptops?
• Using Cell phones and Cameras for bullying – I discussed concerns and experiences that I have had with students using text messages to bully someone and why some schools don’t want to try this.

The idea of students making use of their own devices at school is not mine. There are a number of blogs out there discussing using students’ own technology  to enhance learning – The 17 E’s of Excellent Electronic Education Leadership & Schools learn to work with cell phones in class. We also have students making use of their own laptops for writing and recoding homework assignments.

Not everyone is participating yet. I have only discussed this with the grade 7’s in one class. I have not yet had a staff discussion. More time to talk will be needed.

Students won’t have to bring their own device to school if they (or their parents) don’t want to risk bringing something like this to school. This is not compulsory.

A key agreement I did reach with the students was that we should try it, and work together to ensure that it is a successful and positive experience. We agreed to not text each other in school, that devices should be used as agreed upon with their teacher, and that some further discussions will be needed to come up with some new policy. I think that they are willing to miss future math periods to talk with me some more. How kind of them. 🙂

Another key agreement is that our school code of conduct applies to all situations, so students must show care for all students and respect for other people’s property.

For teachers, we are learning (each of us at a different pace) about how to use current technology as a means to enhance learning and engage students. Twitter has provided me with some good ideas that teachers could make use of with their students. For you teachers out there, one blog that was retweeted to me was 12 Tech Tools That Will Transform The Way You Teach! from Caitlin Tucker’s blog.

I am not sure how this experiment with personal devices will go. We do not have all the answers to the above questions, but sometimes you just have to jump in and get started. I am willing to take a risk and try something that will help our students engage in their work. The students seem very willing to help us come up with a new path for technology in schools, and together, we will try and answer questions that come up and work with their teachers on making this a positive experience for everyone.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions and/or suggestions about students using technology.

I am looking forward to our students helping me learn how to incorporate technology into schools. It will be a fun learning journey.

Take care.