BYOD: Yay or Nay?

Bring your own device (BYOD) programs in schools refer to policies allowing students and teachers to bring their own personalized internet ready devices to school to use to work and learn. In our 21st century, students need to know how to convert, export, import, and move data seamlessly between apps and devices of all kinds. They should also know how to print to PDF and how to open and annotate the documents in various readers. In thinking about BYOD programs, I have conflicting views. I see the pros and the cons. However, for the most part I fall on the pro side of the debate.

“Allowing students to bring their own devices is imperative in a world filled with ever changing technology.” - Jen LaMaster (Finegal, 2012) 

The Peel School District in Ontario, Canada created the following video about their BYOD program.

(Peel Schools, 2013)

 

Utilizing a BYOD program could mean you have students using iPads, surface tablets, iPhones, Android devices, Chromebooks, Macintosh and PC laptops. However, when we think about the statistic that more than 38% of kids under the age of 2 have used a smartphone or tablet, utilizing personal devices becomes a necessity (Krumboltz, 2013).  In reality, our students personal devices are likely newer, more powerful and more advanced that the technology we have in our classrooms.

 

When surveyed, 77% of respondents were in favor of BYOD programs for schools ISTE, 2012, p. 11). BYOD programs create a student centered classroom that promotes student creativity, innovation, exploration, and fosters learning outside of the classroom. Technology Coordinator Robert Stackpole makes a powerful statement, “You can’t provide a 21^st century education without 21^st Century tools.” (Finegal, 2012). Classroom walls are broken down as students take their learning with them on their personal devices.

 

The Nays

Despite all the pros to BYOD programs, there are several negative aspects. Troubleshooting is one of the biggest challenges to BYOD programs and requires educators to utilize higher order thinking skills. Schools need to develop acceptable use policies, create multiplatform hardware and software support systems and increase bandwidth capacities. Student devices are often blocked on school Wi-Fi networks as well as information security issues.   Gary Stager, director of Constructing Modern Knowledge Institute states “We impair such empowerment when we limit educational practice to the functionality of the least powerful device.” . (Finegal, 2012, p. 9)

The Reality

BYOD programs come with pros and cons and I see validity with each side. However, for me, the "yays" outweigh the "nays". BYOD programs foster student innovation, exploration and creativity. As Robert Stackpole stated, "You can’t provide a 21^st century education without 21^st Century tools.” so allowing students to bring their own devices is a necessity. However, the reality of implementation is daunting. To combat this Vicki Davis summarizes 51 apps that can be used with BYOD programs in an Edutopia blog article  (Davis, 2014).

References

Davis, Vicki (2014, June 10) The Epic BYOD Toolchest (51 Tools You Can Use Now), Retrieved from Edutopia: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/the-epic-byod-toolchest-vicki-davis

 

Finegal, Diana (2012, February) Is BYOD the Answer to our Problems or the Worst Idea Ever? Retrieved from Learning and Leading with Technology: http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/201202?pg=7#pg7

 

ISTE (2012, February) Should Students Use their Own Devices in the Classroom? Retrieved from Learning and Leading with Technology:http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/201202?pg=11#pg11

 

Peel Schools (2013, January 23) Why BYOD? Retrieved from You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7zHdGfN530