We teachers
are neglecting the technology tools our students use daily. However, the “Bring
Your Own Device” (BYOD) movement is gaining ground. This is a theory that plans
to use devices that our students already have to enhance learning in the
classroom. If we allow our students to access the internet with their own smartphones
or tablets, we can transform the classroom into a better learning environment. Some
of the advantages inherent in this plan are that students are already familiar
with the devices they own, the cost to the schools is reduced, and students are
more likely to keep their devices updated. Some of the problems associated with
this theory are that the devices are likely to be different (making consistency
for the teacher a problem), students can more easily breach the schools’
security, and unwanted features may be available to the students during class
time such as texting or phone. Since this plan is such a change from the “Park
your phone at the door, or expect it to be confiscated,” times of the near
past, we teachers have to make a shift in our thinking and planning for our
lesson plans. However, it is a plan that makes sense and overcomes some of the
difficulties of putting technology into our students’ hands with a much lower
input of cash from the school.
References:
Brown, A. H., Green, T. D., & Robinson, L. K. (2010). Security vs. access. Washington, DC: ISTE.
References:
Brown, A. H., Green, T. D., & Robinson, L. K. (2010). Security vs. access. Washington, DC: ISTE.
Norris, C., & Soloway, E. (June 2012). The $100
computer is here today: one-to-one across the nation by 2015 is inevitable. District
Administration, 70.
Hey Alma,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. I think allowing students to use devices can help their communication as well. A teacher could set up a page that allows students to share information or ask each other questions. Making it convenient and just the fact that they are using technology will go a long ways.
One of the biggest issues with that is a lot of the students that I teach do not have access to the internet at home and many of them do not own computers. I am interested in how to help these students succeed with these barriers in place. Also I would like to research further how the use of technology will make the students scores better on state tests.
I live in the country, but I live very near a small town (population: 6000. As I volunteer at the local pregnancy center and work with foster kids, I see some ways the poorer segment of our population copes with the technology revolution. First, most have a cell phone with at least voice and texting capabilities(at the expense of things some would consider necessities)and do not have a land line. Even if they have to turn off the phone for a month or two because of the lack of finances, they turn it back on as soon as they can. Those who have a smart phone (or iPod+)can access the internet at various places in our community: the public library, McDonald's, and several other restaurants. I personally think the iPod+ is a great tool for students. It has all the benefits available to a smart phone user if there is Wi-Fi available, and yet it does not require a data plan.
DeleteI believe students need to be made aware of the many ways technology can help them learn new things. If we teachers can motivate them to learn and lead them to new avenues of learning, they can become lifelong learners. There are even apps available to make them better test-takers.
Hi Alma,
ReplyDeleteYour comments are very realistic! I wonder how this shift will occur also - but indeed - it is happening! Could it be due to lack of funding? What other barriers might actually benefit the BYOD movement?
Looking forward to you thoughts!
Dr Courduff
As a taxpayer in my county and state, I can understand why others don't want to give even more money to our schools, even if it is for technology. Since so many students already have access to technology devices at home, it seems to make sense to allow them to use them at school. However, since we are such a nation of individualists, one of our barriers is the great number of types of technology devices our students might bring to the classroom. This makes it more difficult for our IT staff as well as for our teachers.
DeleteHi Alma,
ReplyDeleteThere are so many ways to view the BYOD movement. I am so happy we are investigating this for our group work. I am finding it fascinating! I look forward to what you will be adding to the literature review wiki! One favorite thing I have found in research is the use of mobile devices in third world countries. It's amazing that many very poor families own cell phones with full coverage - thus, they have access to education. In fact, they have access to an education they never thought possible!
I was born and raised in Brazil (before the onset of cell phones). Although Brazil s no longer considered a third-world country, it still has much poverty. In spite of that, there are more cell phones per person than land lines. I also read a statistic several years back that only the United States had more cell phones per person than Brazil. I saw this first-hand when I visited there in 2000. I was invited to lunch at a friend's house and saw that cell phones were parked on a table at the door, one per person. When a phone rang, it was a scramble to know whose it was. There were many more phone plan options than we have available in this country, making cell phones a more attractive option for the people.
ReplyDelete