Let's face it—the various devices that our students use daily are an important part of their lives. Instead of viewing smartphones, tablets, or other technology as a distraction on campus, how can we use these technological tools to provide real learning opportunities during the school day? With increased Wi-Fi access in many districts across the country, even the most reluctant teachers are starting to see the benefits of creating Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives. But such programs need proper planning and support.
The overall goal of any BYOD initiative should be to support and enhance student learning. Any use of student-owned devices must be aligned to specific learning outcomes and ultimately improve productivity, research, and students' overall digital literacy.
Before rushing into a BYOD initiative, however, you need to make sure that all students have equal access to mobile devices. By including a variety of devices in your program and incorporating the technology that already exists in your school, you can ensure that all students have the same opportunities to use technology as a learning tool.
Taking full advantage of mobile learning technology requires careful planning. The following are six key drivers of a successful BYOD initiative:
- Infrastructure. Make sure that your school's Wi-Fi setup can handle the volume of mobile devices accessing the network. There is nothing worse than developing a lesson that integrates mobile devices only to have the Internet slow down to a snail's pace or crash and affect the entire school.
- Shared vision. It's important to enroll reluctant staff members in the initiative before implementation. Gather key stakeholders and work toward a shared vision that elucidates rationale, goals, and expected outcomes, making sure that student learning always remains the central focus.
- Strategic plan. As is the case with any successful initiative, sound planning is imperative. The school must develop policies that address BYOD guidelines such as Wi-Fi log-in procedures, acceptable use, and school liability issues for lost, stolen, or damaged devices.
- Professional development. Teachers need proper support to develop rigorous and relevant lessons, design assessments, develop classroom procedures, and ensure they are familiar with the latest web-based tools and apps that cater to BYOD. Visit my <LINK URL="http://www.pinterest.com/esheninger/byod" LINKTARGET="_blank">Pinterest board</LINK> for several resources about teacher PD and BOYD.
- Student programs. Students need training on how their devices can support learning and on digital responsibility. This training should also address issues of cyberbullying and how to create positive digital footprints. The instruction could happen in the classroom or even during a family engagement activity.
- Budget allocations. Although BYOD initiatives are often cost-effective ways to increase student access to technology, other programs are also available that can help. For example, <LINK URL="https://www.classlink.com/" LINKTARGET="_blank">ClassLink Launchpad</LINK> is a powerful learning management system (LMS) that schools can purchase to help deliver a uniform experience across all devices. With ClassLink, students and teachers can access a customized dashboard that comes preloaded with a variety of frequently used tools.
By focusing on these key drivers, any school or district can successfully implement a BYOD initiative.