BRING YOUR OWN TECHNOLOGY (BYOT)Emerging Technology

By: Kwanza Lippitt

WHAT IS BYOT

Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) is an initiative that allows students to use their personal electronic to connect to the school’s wireless network during class time for educational purposes. BYOT may also be referred to as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD).

(Technology and Information Systems – Forsyth County

Schools, 2012).

PURPOSE

The student population of most schools consists of students who are digital natives; people who are born with and have a greater understanding of technology and its concepts. However, they are taught by people who are digital immigrants; people who are born before the technology but have adapted it to their lives. School leaders are charged with how to best engage these learners.

What better way to engage learners than to allow them to bring and use technology they are familiar with?

HOW DOES IT SUPPORT OUR MISSION The Fulton County Schools (FCS) Information

Technology mission is to support and improve student achievement by integrating technology into daily instruction and administrative processes.

Currently, teachers struggle with ways to integrate technology seamlessly into the instructional process. BYOT takes the guess work out of the integration. The technology is already there and the students do not have to be trained on how to use it. The technology can be used to access information, answer questions digitally, or read a book.

HOW DOES IT SUPPORT OUR VISION? The Fulton County Information Technology

vision is to provide innovative technologies, contemporary training models, and superior support

Currently, our district updates school technology every 7-10 years. However, most technology is outdate within 3-5 years. Students have technology at home that is more up-to-date and innovative than the technology at their school. BYOT alleviates this concern. Also, there is not additional training or support required for the students because it is their technology.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

If a baby can use an iPad without assistance, then surely students in grades K-12 can use the technology in a classroom.

WHAT ABOUT EQUITABLE ACCESS? The district could purchase a small amount of

tablets (such as Kindle Fire, iPad..etc). Students who do not have access to the technology can participate loaner or grant/scholarship program developed by the district. Also, the district could have the tablets set in mobile labs that can checked out and used in the classroom

WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR IMPLEMENTATION?

Increase of Internet Bandwidth/Wireless NetworksWe will need to increase the number of Wireless

Networks operating in the schools. In Forsyth County Schools where a similar program is currently in place, the internet access was upgraded of 1.25 Mbps for basically the same cost.

Virus PreventionFollowing the Forsyth County Schools model, the school

system should have two SSIDs that are accessible. One is secured by WPA2 and as well as certificate on the client network for district provided computers.   The other is open, but sequestered on its own VLAN with ACLs restricting internal access to DHCP and DNS on the public network and is accessible by devices brought into the school system by teachers and students.

WHAT TECHNICAL SUPPORT IS REQUIRED?

BYOT allows the district to put the burden of major technical support back on the students and teachers. In order to participate in the program, parents and students will understand that the district will not provide technical support for the device. However, teachers and students may want to be trained on basic usage and troubleshooting for the devices. This can be achieved through the usage of webinars and/or YouTube videos for a minimal cost or free.

COST/FUNDING? Cost

Majority of the cost associated with the implementation will be due to internet upgrades and increases. Even though the upfront cost are greater, the bottom line will benefit. Schools will not longer be plagued with purchasing new computers and/or additional computers. Technical support costs will be down because the students/parents are responsible for it themselves.

Funding

Funding for the program can be achieved through SPLOST, Title I, Grants and/or stakeholder donations.

HOW CAN IT BE USED IN THE CLASSROOM

How-To/Tutorial VideosStudents can use their devices make tutorial videos using the

video cameral tool on a Smartphone or the ShowMe app to show how to solve particular problems. 

Remediation/Differentiation Students and teachers can make QR code activities and links

for remediation and content delivery.   SlideshowsStudents can take photos during a dissection in biology and

later label each photo with descriptions and characteristics.  They can photograph steps in a process and used these photos in a slideshow to present to the class.  And of course, they can use their devices to access sites for research and the class wiki to access resources.

 CollaborationStudents can work in collaborative groups to solve problems

and then submitting group answers to the teacher (to present on the IWB).  The students can receive immediate feedback

WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY?

Norris and Soloway (2011c), outlined several issues they believed U.S. school districts will face by the year 2015 as they implement policies for technology integration in the curriculum by requiring students to own their own mobile device, which they call the bring your own device (BYOD) policy. According to the authors, school administrators should focus their attention on topics including the functionality of devices, accessibility for low-income students, and responsible use guidelines for students.

Ullman (2011) discussed the modern one-to-one computing, an educational method which refers to one computer for every student in the U.S. It mentioned the need for school districts to focus on providing high-speed wireless networks and devices for the economically disadvantaged. It noted the bring-your-own-technology (BYOT) initiative of Rockdale Independent School District in Texas of letting their students bring their own devices since it cannot afford to provide for everyone.

WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY? Hill (2011) offered observations on the

presence of mobile digital devices in schools. Particular focus is given to the question of if and how devices such as iPad tablet computers, PDA's (personal digital assistants), and Smart Phones can be used to help educate students. According to the author, schools should take advantage of these technological trends as they are the wave of the future and academic achievement..

Puente (2012) reported on the success of the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program in which New Milford School District, New Jersey students were allowed to bring their own mobile learning device into their classes. The author suggested that in order for the BYOD program to be successful, districts must have a strategic multi-year plan in place. The pilot programs should start small and grow with their success. Districts should create a school culture that embraces the new technology, gives all teachers the freedom to experiment, and feel comfortable with the mobile devices. Districts should have a financial plan for sustaining their program.

IMPLEMENTATION Teacher Attitudes

Many teachers are used to direct instruction, yet the differentiation, collaboration, and inquiry results from the implementation of BYOT are more beneficial.  The teacher often has to know how to give suggestions of different activities and projects.  The teacher has to ask students how they think they can learn with their devices; however, the teacher doesn't need to know how all the devices work - the students can lend their expertise in technology to assist with instruction. 

Student Attitudes

Students are not used to learning from their devices - they have used them for personal uses. They need to have teachers facilitate use by asking the right questions.  

Support

The district will need to provide each school with an instructional technology specialist and a media specialist who are both high-quality educators and experts in the integration of technology in the classroom to facilitate learning experiences in BYOT.

 

IMPLEMENTATION Teachers have to empower students to own the

learning and ask the right questions.  They need to challenge students to become experts with their own devices to improve their learning experiences.  They need to utilize more project-based learning in their classrooms.  Teachers also need to learn how to become users of social media –

 Students need to be willing to teach each other and their teachers how to use their technology, and they need to become more accustomed to learning within a collaborative learning community.  

Administrators need to encourage teachers to try new approaches in their classrooms. They need to encourage parents and community stakeholders to become apart of the process. . 

CONCLUSION

Technology and BYOT does not automatically increase student achievement. It is how the technology is used that increases achievement. Students who are engaging are better learners. BYOT allows students to be more engaged and it requires the learning to be more student focused and authentic. BYOT eliminates the question of how best to integrate technology but adds the question of how best to use the technology that is readily available

REFLECTION

Through this process I was able to determine how BYOT can impact the learning of students. As a professional I understand the importance of effectively utilizing technology and meeting the students where they are. BYOT is not a “fix all” but, it is a start in engaging the students and integrating the technology.

REFERENCES Barkhuus, Louise. (2005). Bring your own laptop unless you want to follow

the lecture: alternative communication in the classroom. ACM Digital Library, Proceedings of the 2005 international ACM SIGGROUP conference on Supporting group work, 140-143. doi: 10.1145/1099203.1099230

Bring-Your-Own Becomes Tech Option in Schools. (2011). Electronic Education Report, 18(5), 1-4.

Hill, R. A. (2011). Mobile Digital Devices. Teacher Librarian, 39(1), 22-26. Hwang, G., & Chang, H. (2011). A formative assessment-based mobile

learning approach to improving the learning attitudes and achievements of students. Computers & Education, 56(4), 1023-1031. 10.1016/j.compedu.2010.12.002

Norris, C., & Soloway, E. (2011). From Banning to BYOD. District Administration, 47(5), 94.

Norris, C., & Soloway, E. (2011). Mobile Devices as Essential Tools. District Administration, 47(4), 70.

Norris, C., & Soloway, E. (2011). Tips for BYOD K12 Programs. District Administration, 47(7), 77.

Pashuk, Kevin. (2012, January 12). Don't Confuse BYOT and iTextbooks with Student Engagement [Turning Technology Invisible]. Retrieved from http://turningtechinvisible.blogspot.com/2012/01/dont-confuse- byot-and-itextbooks-with.html

Puente, K. (2012). High School Pupils Bring Their Own Devices. District Administration, 48(2), 64.

Technology and Information Services – Forsyth County Schools. (2012). Retrieved from

http://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us//site/Default.aspx?PageID=824 Ullman, E. (2011). The New One-to-One. Technology & Learning, 31(7), 54-

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