Bring Your Own Device(BYOD)

A Question and Answer Session for Teachers

An Introduction

• Many teachers have questions about the introduction of a “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) policy for all 11th and 12th graders next school year.

• The BYOD policy will enable us to reach our goal of a “1:1” environment from 6th-12th grade in the 2012-13 school year. AMAZING but TRUE!!!

• I should add that I am a bit offended by your lack of faith in the decision-making abilities of your leadership BUT I will still indulge you by answering your questions.

FAQ #1

• Should I be very excited or merely excited about the introduction of BYOD next year?

• Neither! You should be ECSTATIC! In fact, the caliber of teacher you are is directly proportional to how excited you are about BYOD and, in general, about working in a 1:1 environment.

FAQ #2• Why BYOD? • Because it’s time to step into the 21st Century and realize that authentic,

rigorous, relevant, complex, etc. etc. learning requires instant access to technology. We cannot deprive 11th and 12th graders of this, even though we consciously decided to do so four years ago when we decided 7th graders needed laptops more than high schoolers. Then, when these very same students reached 9th grade, we decided that they needed newer and better laptops than the ones we’d given them two years earlier—so we bought them new ones. Indeed, one might assume that we believe 21st Century Skills will not be truly needed until after the Class of 2015 graduates high school. We realize, however, that it is a bit duplicitous to harp on how essential technology is and to not give it to the students who are closest to entering college and/or the workforce but we also realize we can’t afford to buy them new computers and still afford to expand 1:1 to the 6th grade—which is absolutely necessary for reasons no one knows. We certainly wouldn’t admit to any previous mistakes, so we said “what the heck, most of them have computers anyway so why don’ they bring their own!”

FAQ #3• Given that I will not always be using a computer or other PED

for instruction, how can I minimize disruption when transitioning to and from use of PED?

• First of all, you should seriously consider whether you want to admit here, before everyone, that you are not going to be using technology 100% of the time. Why not?

If you stubbornly refuse to step into the 21st Century, you can use the “Ready Use” model, demonstrated on the following slides.

Use Position:Device is front-and-center, ready for use by a 21st Century learner at a moment’s notice.

Standby Position:Computer discretely moved to upper right hand corner of desk, making room for other instructional materials.

Notice how much desk space this frees up?

There’s even MORE room over here! Wow!!

FAQ #4

• What if a students does not bring his or her “device” on a given day?

• This probably won’t happen because students will be explicitly instructed to bring their device daily. If it does happen, we’ll have a few on hand to loan (which won’t in any way reinforce the tendency to just leave your PED at home).

FAQ #5

• What if a student’s device fails during the school day?This won’t happen. If there is any type of malfunction, the student will instantly be able to remedy it because they are experts at using their own device.

FAQ #6

• What if a student’s device gets broken or stolen while on SCS property?

• This won’t happen because we emphasize respect in through PBIS. Furthermore, students will be specifically instructed to NOT steal or damage any other student’s computer.

FAQ #7

• What if I’m not comfortable, as a teacher, with students having continual access to personal electronic devices?

• If this is the case, then you do not care about kids and should be fired, if not arrested.

FAQ #8

• Will the BYOD/1:1 environment be used to justify larger class sizes and the elimination of teaching positions?

• Now your just being paranoid. Of course it will.

FAQ #9

• If BYOD works for 11th and 12th graders, and if it is accepted that students will take better care of their own devices than ones issued to them, then why on earth are we purchasing laptops for all 6th and 7th graders next year? Why not BYOD for them as well?

• Shut up

FAQ #10

• How can we afford to purchase computers for all 6th and 7th graders and continue to cut teaching positions?

• Okay smart guy, how about we cut your position??? How do you like the sound of that!?!

If you so much as snickered at this, you have no business

calling yourself a 21st Century Educator.

Question and Answer time is OVER!!!