Bring Your Own Technology — Case Studies

Introduction

Also called Bring Your Own Laptop (BYOL) and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), student owned devices

Students are no longer using technology simply as an organizational tool (for example, taking notes in class or keeping a calendar of assignments) or production tool (writing papers neatly or doing research). They are using it as an integral part of their learning and educational experience. They:

• take quizzes online

• text their teacher the answer to a scavenger hunt during class

• access a reading assignment in an e-book

• take a poll about which is the right answer to a question the teacher asked

• read into a microphone to learn better pronunciation

• watch a real world example of a math problem being solved

• trace letters and numbers on a touch pad to learn to read and write.

Students are not just using it to take notes on their teacher’s lecture or class discussion. They are going back and watching the video of the lecture or class discussion to better understand the concepts. Mobile learning can be independent of time and place, in this scenario it is a new way to learn. Anecdotal evidence points to better test scores as a result of mobile learning – but how does a school/district provide students the opportunity to engage in mobile learning without providing the devices?

Administrators at individual schools and school districts, students and their parents are beginning to see the potential for engagement that can come from putting mobile technology in the hands of students in the classroom. But, again, how does a school or school district create a technology-enhanced or technology-centered learning environment when it can’t afford to purchase technology for every student or keep up with rapidly changing technology trends? One answer seems to be allowing students to use the technology they already own and use at home: hence the term “Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT)” (also known as “Bring Your Own Laptop (BYOL),” “Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)” or student-owned devices).

The technology allowed under various BYOT programs ranges from laptops to smartphones to computer gaming systems, such as the Nintendo DSi — essentially anything that can connect to the internet. The Forsyth County, Georgia school district’s appropriate use policy defines the technology that students are allowed to bring as any “privately owned wireless and/or portable electronic hand held equipment that can be used for word processing, wireless Internet access, image capture and recording, sound recording and information transmitting, receiving, storing, etc.” BYOT is just one component of mobile learning – it gets the devices necessary for learning into the hands of the students.

Implementing a BYOT Policy

The overriding theme among schools/districts with BYOT policies is that students want to use the technology. Even parents are jumping on the bandwagon: According to Project Tomorrow’s 2010 Speak Up survey, 67 percent of parents said they would purchase a mobile device for their student(s) to use if the school allowed it (70 percent of parents of students in grades 9-12, 69 percent of parents of students in grades 6-8 and 63 percent of parents of students in grades K-5). Only 12 percent of parents of students in grades 9-12 believe it is the school’s responsibility to provide a mobile device.

With the changing pace of technology and solutions to budgetary problems wanting, schools are choosing to invest in the infrastructure to support the devices (a longer term investment) and letting the students decide the hardware. The schools/districts that have embraced BYOT have found several keys to its success:

• Emphasizing students’ personal responsibility for their own devices reduces concerns about loss and damage

• Trusting the students that they will not abuse the privilege afforded them of using the devices for learning purposes teaches responsible use of personal devices

• Professional development or some form of support for teachers trying to incorporate the technology into their lessons increases teachers’ ability to communicate with students and manage learning both within and outside the classroom

• Ensuring a robust wireless infrastructure ensures the safety of sensitive administrative data and prevents students from accessing inappropriate or distracting websites

In our next post we will talk about a case study of a district that has a robust BYOT policy - and is finding great success with it.