BYOD School Preparing your school community
Building Momentum How can you build a school culture ready to support a move to BYOD? The move to BYOD requires a large amount of planning and change management with students, staff and the community: Ensure pedagogy is driving the decision? Demonstrate with case studies to build acceptance, constantly surveying readiness Track the building of the shift in momentum Make the move when the time and culture is right NSWDECBYOD SAMR Implementing BYOD at Banksmeadow Public School Leading Innovation and Change
Defining Goals What is driving the implementation of BYOD in your school community? Have you consulted the literature and seen what has been done by others? BYOD is not the answer to every school s technology needs. Ensure you have read the Literature review and considered all other technology options in the process of going BYOD. In the end going BYOD needs to have teaching and learning as the core driver. The desire to provide 1:1 access for students For students that do not have access to a BYOD device, it will make access to school-based computer resources spread less thinly. Digital text books and resources NSWDEC BYOD Literature Review
Defining Goals Have you considered the type of BYOD model that will suit your school community? Choosing a BYOD model that will have the most positive impact upon student learning is vital. Consider the options presented in the BYOD literature review to determine which is the best model for your school community. Option 1 BYO Dedicated Device Option 2 BYO Selection of Devices Option 3 BYO Anything NSWDEC BYOD Literature Review
Defining Goals Model 1. Locked Down: The device and software to be used are dictated and controlled by the school brings purchase costs down assists teachers in their planning as they know the device capabilities. limits options for families results in decreased compliance no existing student personal connection with the device Models of BYOD
Defining Goals Model 2: Limit devices to specific requirements: e.g. must run specific software or apps or operating system, have a minimum size RAM and hard drive etc. allows families greater choice results in increased compliance. teachers are aware of the device capabilities for their planning. technology support can be more problematic with a variety of devices there may be no existing student personal connection with the device Models of BYOD
Defining Goals Model 3. BYO anything you own: Any personally owned device provided it is internet ready Reduces costs greatly for parents Greatly increases compliance. Student personal connection with the device. In practice this has proven to be the model requiring the least technical support as it must be left mainly to the students themselves. Teachers cannot know the capability of every device Others argue that browser based apps help to overcome these problems. Models of BYOD The teacher will be required to focus on the learning and leave the technical challenges to the student, who knows (or must learn to know) his own device (Alberta Education, 2012).
Defining Goals Have you documented your BYOD Framework? Ensure the school community is informed of the choice you have made. Create a school based policy document that informs your community of the school expectations, boundaries and opinions NSWDEC BYOD Literature Review
Collaborative Planning Begin with a conversation and/or a public forum Spark discussion with conversations about what do we want learning to look like? As a school community would drive the vision of the school. Examples of student based learning.
Collaborative Planning Have you consulted the SRC to ascertain their comments about a BYOD program and the types of information and support students will need to work effectively in a BYOD environment? If students are consulted in this process they will take additional ownership and responsibility for the success of a program. One useful way to do this is through your student SRC! You may like to use the base presentation to inform students of what BYOD is and how it affects them
Collaborative Planning Have you consulted your community about BYOD? For a BYOD program to work successfully you will need the support of your parent body. Do they have a device their child can utilise? Do they have concerns over the use of devices they consider gaming machines? Preparing a newsletter insert and running an information session/forum in addition to a parent survey would be a useful way to inform, consult and assess the feelings of the parent body
Collaborative Planning How do your teachers feel about moving to a BYOD program? Are they ready? Many teachers will be unsure of what a BYOD program is and will be confronted by the variation of devices, applications and programs. Survey staff to see how they feel about BYOD and use the links and resources to assist in the change management process
Collaborative Planning Have you revisited your school welfare, discipline and curriculum policy to incorporate BYOD? There are many consideration when implementing a BYOD program, these include: Who is responsible for charging devices? What happens when a device is damaged or stolen? Who is responsible for repairs and support? It is important to ensure these concerns are addressed within existing policy documents. The DEC BYOD Policy is there to support these changes
Professional Learning for students, parents and teachers Have you developed and/or implemented a professional learning plan to upskill your teachers to work in a BYOD environment? To deliver positive learning outcomes with a BYOD program teachers need to feel comfortable with a move to BYOD. To enable this and empower teachers a professional learning plan will improve teacher confidence and readiness Who will lead the professional learning for BYOD in your school? Link to Professional Learning materials
Professional Learning for students, parents and teachers Are your students confident users of information and Devices? What is their overall Digital Citizenship and Readiness? Link to Professional Learning materials Are your students confident digital citizens capable of working within this independent device environment? Consider running your students through some of the digital citizenship resources in the links to the right to prepare them for this change
Professional Learning for students, parents and teachers Have you prepared the resources to allow users to connect to the internet? Users may find connecting to the internet a challenge. Whilst this will only need to be done once per device, instructions and guides will need to be prepared. If you are using standardised ITD DEC solutions the links to the right will assist Link to Professional Learning materials
Professional Learning for students, parents and teachers Is your community informed about device choices that can enhance learning? There are a number of base requirements that are recommended for a device to be a useful and efficient learning tool. Screen size, Minimum browser requirements are just some of the considerations parents need to consider! Running an informal briefing session is a great way to begin discussions with your parent body Link to Professional Learning materials
Professional Learning for students, parents and teachers Has your community been informed about what BYOD will look like in the classroom and at home? Providing parents with regular updates on the progress of your BYOD policy, achievements, expectations and planning will ensure you are able to keep them on side throughout your BYOD journey! Perhaps consider adding a regular report in your newsletter, P & C meeting as well as a dedicated section of your website Link to Professional Learning materials
Is your Infrastructure / Network Ready Do you have a Wi-Fi network to support BYOD? In order to implement a BYOD program students and teachers will need to connect their devices to the internet. You will need to see if your wireless infrastructure can support a BYOD program. NB If you are in a NSW DEC Secondary school the DER network can support a BYOD program Public schools (K-6) will need to consider their wireless requirements, particularly in relation to coverage and capacity. NSW DEC wireless standards should be followed to ensure ongoing support is provided.
Is your Infrastructure / Network Ready Anti-malware If Windows laptops are considered to be suitable as a BYO device, it is essential that each device has up-to-date antimalware software and all important Windows updates installed. Ensure all students are asked to install anti-virus and malware protection before bringing hardware to school
Have you considered Equity? Do you have supplementary devices to be loaned to students who do not have access to a BYOD Device? This is an equity concern. Students will need to be able to complete tasks even if they do not have their own device. A good way to start is to survey students/parents to find out what devices they are willing to bring
Have you considered Equity? Have you considered alternative funding options for parents and the community? Consider a 50/50 funding model (school pays half and parents pay half) Consult with your P & C and school funding partners concerning other options available to implement an equitable BYOD solution in your school Sponsorship from local companies
Implementing BYOD Mini Checklist Define goals Plan collaboratively Consult and communicate Keep teaching and learning at the centre of everything Provide professional learning for teachers that focusses on pedagogy Address equity Include a focus on digital citizenship Plan for your network to cope (Regional IT Advisor consultation)