Revindicating the Y in BYOD

"If mum lends me her tablet, is that BYOD, too, Ms Andy?"

This came from a 10 year old student, and however simple the question might seem at first sight, it's quite tricky to answer. Even more so if you´re trying to make a strong point out of the fact of the YOUR part of the acronym.

What does YOUR device mean exactly? Do we need to revindicate the Y? This young mind had definitely hit the point.

After a full three month term of using school owned tablets in all years in Primary, I think I'm beginning to draw some conclusions on the whole BYOD programme, which is happening only in the last years (Y5 & Y6),  and in its impact in every day life at school.

The fact the device is personal brings a richer experience.

We started using the mobile devices in reading sessions, once a week. Of course the school had its own lot of tablets to share with those students who couldn´t or wouldn´t bring theirs. And so the first hurdles popped up. Quite significant skills like making annotations, margin notes, even bookmarks became meaningless when using devices from the "public" school cart. 

And on the other side, those bringing their own devices not only became experts in using their own reading apps, and dictionaries, but also started developing other important abilities related to keeping track of their learning; such as self reminders, highlights and customized explanations, among other things.

Even using their own picture gallery proved an asset as the whole thing became integrated beyond simply reading into blogging, book club activities, even dowloading other books or stories related to the topic or author. So without really meaning it, we created a gap between the owns with their big Y and those using the schools´ devices.

Teacher planning is paramount. No big wonder in this statement. Yet...

Even if I´m a big fan of a student centred approach for the classroom, I strongly believe that it´s the teacher´s responsibility above all to set clear goals and make full meaning of the devices. Why? Well, to make sure you´re ever going to get closer to those aims. It´s also true that kids make wonders when using technology, creativity unveils and almost anything that they do will certainly motivate them and teach them something. But does it match the original intention for that particular learning session? 

So I´ve seen fabulous lessons with mobile devices that got carried away, not complying with anything but pure magic. Yet, as teachers we hold the responsibility of guiding students´ production towards a clear aim, which needs to become clear to them as well sooner or later. I like John Dewey´s quote that goes "We do not learn from experience.... we learn from reflecting on experience."

Take a look at this webpage from Edutopia for more advice on mobile devices in action.

Another important aspect lies on the motivational side and the essence of our 21st century students. So far, the BYOD policy the school has implemented hasn´t been on the way. On the contrary, I believe having one written down, to share with parents and teachers has brought down quite a lot of prejudice and hesitation on what was accepted and what was not as part of the programme.

Let´s wait and see what happens in our next term with the Ys in the non-standarized-multi-platform environment that we are building in our classrooms.

As the image says, I do not expect peace and quiet, but we are learning here!

Secondary School signed up for BYOD, and what about Primary?

First graders reading an interactive story at BDS Library

Being part of a K-12 institution that takes pride in having a very high profile towards ICT integration in the classroom poses different challenges for everybody around school. Teachers, wondering "what´s next?", students who feel skeptical about the true meaning of BYOD at least for now, parents trying to fall in the line, administrators trying to figure out the budget.

This of course includes me, the Headmistress in Primary, former ICT Coordinator and Systems Manager - mind you I´m still not sure whether this last statement is actually making things any easier for me or not. Our Secondary School (Middle and Senior) is finding its way in the initial phases of a BYOD programme launched this term, back in February 25th, and that is BIG news for us all.

Of course, I feel part of that development. Even if I´m not able to be hands on right now from my present position, I would like to think I´m still its god-mother or something like it (so typical, motherly comment, you´re right). In that sense, I can still see the effects of my actions -good and bad-  a few months back in terms of setting the grounds technologically  speaking (infrastructure) and also thinking about my strong vision to devote all necessary resources for teachers to the lead the change. I´m grateful I can still participate in different ways in the project, as I was recently invited to write out a draft for the mobile device policy for students and hold weekly meetings with key actors in the staff.

Back in Primary, the point is how to adapt BYOD to the early years all throughout Year 6 and yet not think of Secondary school as the crossing line, but looking beyond it. We are moving together, not in batch processing. 

For now, the plan is to use the school´s mobile labs with 10 inch Android Tablets as early as first form, while inviting the eldest students in Primary, i.e. Year 6 for now, to bring their own devices certain days of the week. Both English and Spanish teachers are getting involved, especially our Librarians who have proved to be invaluable players in the team providing the most fabulous contents for students to experiment, learn and have fun. This is probably a keypoint: digital resources. Ebooks, apps, websites, even Britannica Online, they are all essential to offer teachers alternatives while they come up with their own production. We are lucky to have an LMS already well established in all Primary, with teachers being able to design their courses, add content, mentor groups in forums and ignite class blogs in a safe environment, this last something particularly important considering the ages of Primary students, ranging from 6 to 12. So teachers are given the tablets first, to try them out, to play with them, to discuss content with @BDSLibrary, to understand how they can be integrated with the IWB in the classrooms. In a month´s time teacher training will come dealing with specific issues of key content areas like maths and  English, tablet in hand. 

I hope I can slowly see the number of tablets in students´ hands grow, safely and meaningfully, but I´d also love to see staff hugging theirs around school, at a parents´meeting, in the playground and labs, and in the classroom.

Happy Easter for all Christians in the world.