Bring Your Own Device In Schools

Jake Weskamp

Victoria Campbell

English 1020

8/5/14

Bring Your Own Device in Schools For years teachers have been chained to a computer lab when they wanted to use technology in their classes. Even if teachers decide to take their classes to a computer lab, it can often be hard to get in as schools do not have enough funding to go one-to-one (one device for one student). Once upon a time when computer labs were the latest in school technology, it worked; computers had a limited number of uses so labs worked but that time has long passed. Technology is now a critical part of education, and while schools are doing their best to get more labs, mobile laptop labs, iPad carts, etc. students and teachers are craving more tech in their education.

Teachers can teach the material and then let the students practice and hopefully master on their own using BYOD. BYOD provides flexibility to students to use a device they are comfortable with. They have the opportunity to showcase their learning in creative ways (Sautter). This freedom and flexibility puts each individual student at the focus of the curriculum (Sautter). This is something that teachers have been trying to do for ages. BYOD allows students to take hold of their education and run with it wherever they want it to lead. Students are able to do this by using a device they are comfortable with (Bruder). Even more than this students are able to use the software they are familiar with while allowing them to explore and look for new software and apps. Not only are students set free to explore and experience technology to the extent they want through BYOD, but teachers are also set free from the computer lab. A teacher does not have to wait for one of a limited number of labs to become available for his or her students if each student has their personal device in their pocket. Not having to wait for a lab or a cart full of tablets allows more technology access for students who show an interest in it

For example, one science teacher in Atlanta, GA successfully incorporated the popular smart phone game, Angry Birds, into a lecture on complex physics (Hinduja). Even the simple act of letting a student listen to his or her favorite type of music while working independently in class can be a benefit (Bruder). BYOD devices can provide individual polling. For years teachers asked a question to one member of a class and hoped that the rest of the students were paying attention, but now using BYOD devices a teacher can ask a question to each member of the class at once and see the results in real time (Bruder). Teachers and schools definitely are interested in these types of devices. Simba Research conducted a survey about technology in the classroom and found that the interest in technology in the classroom and by extension BYOD is great. In March 2011, 76% of people responding to the survey said they use mobile devices, such as a smart phone or a tablet, in their classroom. One third of those that were not utilizing this technology planned to start within a year (Hestermann 49). With interest this high, the opportunities for other lessons are as vast as the internet