As the temperature begins to rise, I reminisce back to a
warm summer day while sitting on a bench next to the pool watching my
five-year-old son climbing the never-ending ladder of the high dive. As he reached the summit, he casually walked
to the edge of the board with a smile on his face. Without a care in the world,
he leapt into the water! His confidence and tenacity allowed him to complete
this act with faith in his ability. As
he plunged to the surface, several questions formulated in my mind. When does
fear creep into our consciousness? Is it
a learned behavior? Or are we innately born
with these trepidations?
Throughout
the world of education, I feel as though many are leading with fear. There are major concerns regarding social
media and the fear of allowing students to use their cell phones for
educational purposes. As an educator and
parent, I have come to the realization that, like it or not, social media and
mobile learning devices are going to be an integral part of our children’s
lives. Aren’t we supposed to be
preparing today’s youth for the real world?
Should we allow our fears and apprehension to hinder the technological
education our children need to advance in their field of study?
Some of the
uneasiness in allowing students to bring their own devices to school revolves
around cheating, stealing, broken devices, and the inability of some students
to bring a device. In reality, these
challenges have always been present within the classroom. We cannot move forward technologically based
upon the “what ifs.” Instead, we must
find solutions to these possible dilemmas and move forward to allow our
students the ultimate learning experience.
We must maximize student usage of mobile learning devices to encourage
the safe and meaningful use of technology within the classroom setting. It is up to the school district to set clear
and stringent guidelines. Some simple ways to do so includes requiring students
to keep the devices flipped over on top of their desks while taking a
test. Also, having a “responsible use
policy” in place is a must. The students
and parents should have a clear understanding of what is appropriate use in the
classroom. They should also have a clear
understanding of consequences of misuse.
When teachers give students the opportunity to be responsible, the
results are inspiring. Teachers modeling proper usage are also beneficial. It
is important to understand that “bring your own device” allows the students the
opportunity to learn in a way that is most conducive to them. It allows them to think independently and
critically in a manner in which they are most familiar. We are allowing them to bring the technology
they are comfortable with at home into the classroom setting. It is not a replacement for a 1:1 initiative;
instead it provides students with opportunities to enhance their learning while
incorporating the necessary technology skills to compete in our rapidly
changing world.
Resources to Ease the Fear of BYOD
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