B Y O D
Bring Your Own Device
Steve Hayes posed a very important question about BYOD on his blog and it's one I think EVERY educator should answer:
When that time comes and every student arrives to your classroom with a mobile device, what will you do?
- Ignore them and continue to teach the same way you always have.
- Continue to use the same teaching strategies you have always used, but marginally use the mobile devices for tasks such as word processing.
- Realize that the teaching strategies, developed around a set of tools from a generation ago, are no longer viable and change your teaching strategies.
What will YOU do?!?
Why BYOD?
Learning to Change-Changing to Learn
- Choice. Learners are diverse. Learning styles and preferences vary and we wish to recognize this by allowing learners to choose the device and applications most suitable for them.
- Anywhere, anytime. Teaching and learning occurs inside and outside the classroom. We want to empower learners to utilize tools for learning in a “just in time” manner no matter where they are.
- Personalized. By having our own devices we can each have the tools, shortcuts, widgets, and add-ons that are most relevant to us. Our desktops and browsers are the way we want them.
- Preparing for the future. Our students will move into BYOT environments at college and in the work place. We need to prepare them for this.
- Flexible learning. The nature of learning is changing. No longer do we sit in rows and listen to a teacher. We are creating flexible learning environments that facilitate collaborative and individual learning. We are opening the classroom doors and encouraging teachers and students to access ‘global’ learning environments via web technologies.
- Digital fluency. We are empowering teachers and students to become digitally fluent and responsible users of technology.
From Learning2Learn
What are your biggest concerns?
Let's use a Google Form to see what your biggest concern is about a BYOD program on your campus and in your classroom.
Go to the shortened URL to answer the question: http://goo.gl/GhTKn
Let me reassure you...
- You do NOT need to know it all!
- Go ahead and accept the fact that the kids may know MORE than you - it's ok!
- Your students may not be working on the same task at the same time. BYOD can me messy - that's ok, too!
- Remember the power of the device in relationship to student learning.
What does it look like?
Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT)
What will BYOD look like in your classroom?
Tell me your best strategies... What tools will your kids use... What activities you can incorporate into your classroom... Visualize your dream 2.0 classroom and make it happen! Power of a positive mind!
Post an online sticky note with your thoughts: http://goo.gl/5uDeh
So, how do you do it?
Tips and Tricks
- Not sure who has what or where to begin? Have a BYOT Jam Session - let the students tell you what they like to use and how they like to use it!
- Afraid the technology might be a distraction? Use the Lamp on / Lamp off method. Simple, VERY visual and effective.
- Want to give a participation grade while students are using technology, but don't know how to do this concretely? Try a student participation sheet.
- Be very clear with your plan and expectations. Don't leave any room for misinterpretation of your guidelines.
10 Ideas to Get You Started
- Use Poll Everywhere to create introductory teaser polls for your lessons. Students can respond with a cell phone (text) or online.
- Let students take pictures of assignments and notes instead of printing copies or copying from the board. (read full article here)
- Use QR codes in your classroom and let students scan them with their smart phones. Need ideas? Look here!
- Create a class blog and let your students be the authors. This is a great way to document the great things that are happening in your room AND include the students' own devices!
- GO PAPERLESS! Create a Google group for collaboration, assessment, projects and more!
- Use a backchannel like Todays Meet during your lecture so students can pose questions without interrupting your lesson.
- Create an app for your classroom to make navigation from a smart phone easier! Check out Conduit Mobile to see how.
- Develop online content as a companion to your in-person instruction. Or better yet, let your STUDENTS develop online content!
- Create a classroom YouTube channel and load it up with useful instructional videos for your students. Take it one step further and let your students create tutorial videos to share with their classmates.
- Feeling really daring?! Adopt PROJECT BASED LEARNING in your classroom to truly embrace your BYOD program. Want more information? Check out BIE - they have it all!
Now you try...
Using the links above, visit at least 3 NEW Web 2.0 tools (don't waste time going to sites you are already familiar with!). After you have evaluated 3 sites, go to our TodaysMeet room and tell us which one was your favorite and why. You can include:
- What did you like about the tool?
- What didn't you like?
- How can you use this in your classroom?
- Is it user-friendly?
- Will it engage your students or is it just fluff?
Where can I find more information?
Remember, you're not alone! There's safety in numbers!
Teamwork funny
Session Evaluation
Please take a moment to evaluate today's BYOD session. Click here or go to http://goo.gl/sgGbP. Thank you!
About Jessica
I am an Instructional Technology Specialist for Brenham ISD. My favorite hobby is tweeting and building my PLN. I love finding new Web 2.0 tools to share with my faculty and students and I think social networking can be a powerful educational tool. I am a techno junkie...a perfectionist in everything I do (sometimes to a fault!)...and I am one of those people who genuinely enjoys getting up and coming to work each day!
Email: edtechchic@gmail.com
Website: edtechchic.com
Location: Brenham, TX
Phone: (979) 277-3760
Facebook: facebook.com/edtechchic
Twitter: @edtechchic