The Pros and Cons of BYOD

BYOD is an acronym representing the teaching concept of Bring Your Own Device (also sometimes referred to as BYOT, where the "T" stands for Technology). Anyone with a "tween" child or older knows that our kids have become inseparable from their cell phones, tablets, laptops, and gaming devices. Ask them to step away from the technology they love, and you might as well ask them to remove an appendage - or at least they'd have you think the request is as ludicrous. And whereas schools have long banned most personal technology from the classroom, many are rethinking this stance in favor of a more flexible option allowing students to channel that love for technology into something productive. This is what led to the pedagogical concept of BYOD.   On the surface, the BYOD concept makes a lot of sense, and could even save schools significant money by not having to furnish the technology for our students. The ability to have a cell phone doesn't seem to be affected much by age or even socioeconomic status. In fact, a 2012 New Media Consortium Horizon Report revealed that 61% of Americans age 12 and up own a mobile device, and 44% own a smart phone. But adopting a BYOD policy in the classroom requires a lot of thought and planning to implement successfully. Here are pros and cons educators must consider when determining whether BYOD is appropriate for their classroom:   PROS:

• Schools with limited funding can leverage student resources to help bring current technology to the classroom.
• Students are possibly more inclined to engage in active learning when technology is integrated in the discussion.
• The use of technology in the classroom teaches students digital literacy, and how to use technology for the sake of learning.
• Students are responsible for ensuring that their device has the latest software updates and technology, removing pressure from schools to "keep up" with a costly, and ever changing landscape.

  CONS:

• The top concern for educators (rightfully so, when you consider that the average teen sends more than 2,000 texts per month!) is whether or not the technology will become a distraction in the classroom. Proper adaptation of BYOD has to involve specific boundaries for use - when, where, and how the device can be used during class.
• Students may develop an over-reliance on the Internet to furnish them with information, rather than relying on traditional research methods. Educators will need to teach students how to vet information from the Internet, and provide them with guidance on how to properly use search engines, as well as which engines provide the most accurate and educational information.
• Because most of the tech tools students would be using would require Internet access, schools may struggle to provide adequate bandwidth and network strength. IT staff at the school would need to be prepared to handle a significantly higher number of users than they're used to handling.

  As with any new teaching concept, BYOD will take time to develop. And as it does, policies and procedures will evolve to help educators harness this opportunity to help students achieve success. If we're truly trying to help students become college and career ready, then we have to embrace technology and give students ample opportunities to apply their tech skills in the classroom. And who knows? Maybe if our kids are using their devices throughout the school day, they'll be less likely to cling to them when they get home...well, one can hope at least!