BYOD
"...if we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow..."
-John Dewey
Fight it or embrace it seems to be the debate when it comes to allowing students to bring their own cell phones, ipods, or tablets into the classroom. I say, embrace it. Let kids bring your own device (BYOD). Kids are going to have their cell phones in their pockets, they are going to sneak them in your class, and they are going to secretly text their friends during class. What if these technological devices were not forbid in school? We know teenagers are drawn to the forbidden so why not allow cell phones, embrace them, and use them in positive ways in the class.
Students can be polled on their phones throughout class to see who is paying attention, what kids understand, or what they are confused about during the lecture.
Teachers can send text message reminders to students about homework that is due the next day.
Students can record each other performing a lab in class that the teacher can grade after watching the video.
Students can get access and read ebooks on their devices in seconds.
Students can take pictures of images or text in a book that they may want to reference later.
These are just a few of the reasons I think technological devices should be allowed in the classroom. BYOD has the capability to revolutionize education!
Times are changing and so should our teaching.
You're right! Kids can be completely attached to their phones and devices. And if schools forbid them, they will be relentless. They'll sneak them in to class and do the funniest things to hide them while texting. Texting inside their backpack pretending to find something, texting behind a calculator that is just big enough to cover their phone, or my favorite.. texting under a mass of long hair! Anyhoo... It'd be great to embrace students' personal devices for educational purposes, and you bring up some creative ideas. I would love to think that all students would have the maturity and self-control to use their devices appropriately. It seems to me that there's a fine line between appropriate use of technology and misuse. I wonder how teachers can effectively manage the use of personal devices. What kind of norms and policies would need to be established at a classroom level? At a school-wide level?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your ideas!
Jeni,
ReplyDeleteNo doubt, there are some amazing possibilities with cell phones in the classroom. Here's one issue I've run into though, and I'm curious as to how you might approach it: 25-30% of my students are on limited texting plans, so when I've had them text in answers, many of the kids refuse because they don't want to get in trouble with their parents. Any ideas on how I/another teacher might address that?
Rory-
DeleteThanks for commenting on my blog! The website my professor used was polleverywhere.com. We could text, tweet, or go to the website to submit our anonymous responses. I was amazed at how quick and easy it was. Hope this helps :)