10 Reasons to Start a BYOD Program

1.) Economical. BYOD programs provide a 1:1 tech solution without the budget impact of expensive purchasing, maintenance or staffing concerns. Schools can double the number of workstations without an increase in funding. Simply put, these programs can save the district a fortune.

“We would like to provide every student with a mobile device, but right now in a state strapped with debt, we have issues of funding… This [BYOD] is the best way to start a 1:1 program at a very low cost.” - Scott Knuckles

2.) Convenient. BYOD promotes anytime, anywhere learning. Students are no longer confined to the computer lab or library. As soon as a teacher creates an assignment, whether inside or outside the classroom, students have that assignment at their fingertips. A mobile device can be the students’  tool in any environment, including the classroom.

3.) Empowering. Students feel empowered when they’re more in control of their learning. With BYOD, students have a choice in which device to use which makes their learning experience a more individual one. The choice and empowerment of BYOD reveals a student’s natural desire to learn.

“[With BYOD] Students feel like they’re in control of their own educational process.” - Scott Knuckles

4.) Efficient. Most families upgrade their devices quite regularly – much more often than districts update their classroom technology. It is often much quicker for students to pull up a website or download a video on their own device than it is to wait for the classroom computer to accomplish the same task.

5.) Collaborative. By allowing students’  own mobile devices inside the classroom, schools encourage learning outside of it. Students can collaborate with their classmates during class and at homework time – all using the same learning tool. BYOD also encourages collaboration with parents as students bring the classroom home with them.

“I saw 6 students in the library working on a project on Thomas Jefferson. There was an eclectic total number of devices being used: I saw 2 iTouches, I saw an older MacBook, I saw an old laptop. And they were collaborating… With BYOD we were able to successfully roll out a collaboration product offered by Lightspeed, called My Big Campus… so that students can collaborate, store, work on projects in a safe environment.” – Scott Knuckles

6.) Safe. With a secure network, content filter and policy settings, students’ mobile devices can be as safe as the district funded computer lab. The appropriate tools balance the needs of IT departments and educators: filtering for CIPA compliance, AUP enforcement and the utmost in student safety with access to dynamic content and collaborative tools to engage students.

7.) Encouraging. A BYOD program isn’t just safe in a traditional sense, it also offers protection for the shy or socially fragile student. When BYOD is combined with a collaborative learning platform like My Big Campus, discussions  can be held in a safe social networking environment. A student may be too intimidated to raise his hand in class, but encouraged to express himself in an online discussion with his teacher and other students.

“With My Big Campus, everything is monitored and it is safe. When there’s a safe environment, you get really great discussions… Even the shy one’s are more willing to type rather than stand up in the front of the room.” - Scott Knuckles

8.) Responsible. BYOD programs help to alleviate cell phone misuse on campuses because they don’t ban devices, but teach students how to use them properly.  By giving students a productive opportunity to use their devices, they are less inclined to use them inappropriately.

“The most evident arena where things have really improved is the use of cell phones… By instating a BYOD environment in school, you’re allowed to bring cell phones onto campus and it really has dropped incidents of cell phone misuse on campuses… We had to really change our whole philosophy and teach how to use, not ban.” - Scott Knuckles

9.) Constructive. When students leave K-12 levels, they must be prepared for higher education or the workforce. Both avenues require the knowledge and ownership of a personal device. BYOD programs help create independent learners prepared for the next step in their lives.

“When you go to college today, you have to have a device of your own. You have to use a device to collaborate. This is a great opportunity to prepare them [students].”  - Scott Knuckles

10.) Universal. Students aren’t the only ones who benefit from BYOD. When teachers are allowed to use their own devices for presentations and lessons, they can perform much of their own troubleshooting, minimizing IT involvement. Educators can spend less time becoming familiar with their classroom’s technology, making the classroom more efficient.

“An unexpected outcome was that teachers really enjoy BYOD. They can bring their own personal devices and use them throughout the classroom as presentations devices… and also use them for research for the students.”  - Scott Knuckles 

Extra Credit!   Engaging. Kids love technology. A connection between technology – especially a student’s own piece of technology – and education brings a modern excitement to the learning process. Bringing personal electronic devices on campus introduces a new sense of wonder inside the classroom.