Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) Classrooms

Introduction

As the computing power of personal technology advanced alongside the sliding prices of such devices, the inclusion of portable technology in society exploded. Tablet, laptop, and smartphone sales have dwarfed the traditional home computer to the point that some countries have more devices than people. People are choosing to invest their time and energy into integrating these devices in all aspects of their life, from work to home. One of the last places to embrace the idea of personal devices is the education system.

It is hard to pinpoint the exact cause for the hesitation. There is the argument that allowing such devices introduces too much distraction and eliminates the predictability of the tools available to support the curriculum. There is the argument that not all students have an adequate device or the knowledge to effectively integrate it into their lives. Both arguments have merit and cannot be ignored, but they are barriers that can be overcome and should not prevent the goal of introducing personal devices into the classroom.

Just as we used to pick out our school supplies, we all made choices based on our learning style and preference of communication. The teacher provided the minimum specs based on the supply list, but we all personalized the tools to suit our needs. Technology has evolved to the point where our devices are highly personalized. Rather than a standardized home computer with less than a dozen applications, we have an endless variety of apps and Web 2.0 cloud services that can round out our technological pencil case. There is little in the curriculum that dictates the software we have to use, so why not allow students to make use of the tools they understand and model the use beyond social interaction and entertainment value.

Bring Your Own Device is not something that a teacher or school should consider unless they are ready to match the tool with the instructional practice.

Module Activity

Using a visual tool, create an interactive poster that encourages a BYOD environment, but is very clear about the rights and responsibilities associated with this environment. You can decide how to foster the development of a BYOD classroom and the messages that you want to send to students.

Feel free to use the 'principals of mobile learning' for possible topic ideas. Try to create a balance of excitement and a sense of community in your messaging on the poster.

...or Project Extension

Consider your project and the use of student devices. Create a comprehensive plan for the inclusion of personal devices in your classroom next year - for example, this can include a presentation on acceptable use or a lesson on ethics and etiquette using personal technology. Use best practices to guide your work, but you should address:

• How this supports dynamic instruction and learning

• The digital divide

• The rights and responsibilities of students in this type of environment