Article #1
Going Mobile: Key issues to consider for schools weighing BYOD
This article reviews several issues to consider as some school districts begin to consider moving to a bring your own device mentality rather than an all devices banned mentality. This article looks at five key points to be considered if you are at all considering the BYOD model. The first point is that while new technologies are being utilized by students at no cost to the district for the devices, there will still be additional costs to districts for items such as network improvements, teacher training and managing lost, stolen or damaged property. The second point to consider is that while many students will have devices to bring, what about the students that don't and if the district is paying for these students, will what the district purchases actually be comparable to what the other students are bringing in. The third point addressed in the article is the idea that this may be the first step in totally changing the look of the classroom. The author points out that Steve Jobs described the iPad as better suited to use in an easy chair so does this mean the end to traditional desks in the classroom? The fourth point is that standards assignments would now become obsolete and finally, one must understand that technology won't necessarily make kids any smarter unless the devices are used to their full potential.
This is a very interesting article for me in that I feel that technology is often the big push without really evaluating the long term effects and responsibilities for all stakeholders involved. I appreciate that someone has considered long term and perhaps more wide spread implications of a BYOD model. I am in agreement with the first point, largely because I think that teachers are not well trained in the newest technologies and should not be expected to teach using these tools without proper training. I also agree with the second point about considering if districts are willing or even able to provide comparable technologies for students who do not have the means to provide such a device. With how fast technology is changing, I can't see how districts could possibly keep up with the latest devices. I have to take issue with points three and four. I think it is a real stretch to go from iPads in the classroom to removing desks and replacing them with couches. In my view, one has nothing to do with the other and each decision made for a classroom should and will continue to be seriously considered before being implemented. I also think that while many past assignments may become obsolete, it is good practice to constantly be reviewing, adapting and modifying all lessons and assignments and that no lesson or assignment is ever static so changes made for technology should not be an issue. Lastly, I believe that gadgets do not make the student smarter but perhaps make them better able to adapt in an ever increasingly technologically savvy world.
Article #2
The Evolution of a 1:1 iPad Program
This article provides an overview of an iPad pilot project at Westlake High School. This school made the decision to provide all grade 11's and 12's with their own iPads to study if this technology was beneficial to learning. Teachers in this school were provided with an iPad to use over the summer and professional development training days to encourage staff understanding of this technology and to have staff competent with the iPad before they were given to students. The students were able to personalize their iPads as this was seen to be the most beneficial way of implementing iPads versus an iPad cart that students shared. Students and staff were able to communicate and provide feedback on projects and assignments via the internet and students were able to transform their projects in ways such as creating video responses and projects. Another benefit was seen with apps that were used with the special needs students. These students were better able to meet expectations with the help of technology to adapt the way learning takes place. The final benefit that was highlighted in the pilot project was that students were better able to manage distractions both at home and at school because they had the experience with iPads in their high school environment. This seems to have had a beneficial effect on students as they entered the university world.
The student satisfaction survey posted results that were very high, in the eighty percent and higher range. Taking into account the success of this program, the article states that they are now looking into putting iPads into middle and elementary schools. I have great doubts that the results would be replicated in an elementary school. While there would be some positive application of the iPad, many of the examples provided in the article are just not transferrable to an elementary setting. There are also other issues that were not addressed in this case study. While the students were all provided with an iPad, avoiding the issue of socioeconomic status, the article did state that most of the students at this high school were expected to go on to university. I am wondering about the effect an iPad project would have on an inner city school, if any, where students may not carry on to university education and perhaps may never have access to an iPad after high school. Would the iPad enhance their learning enough to be a worthwhile investment? I also question the IT support that would be necessary for such a project as well as cost incurred for damaged, lost or stolen iPads. While this was a successful project for this school, I am not sure that the benefits would transfer to schools across the country.
Article #3
A 1:1 IPAD INITIATIVE-VISION TO REALITY
This article outlines an initiative to get iPads into the hands of grade 9 students. This article speaks to the creation and implementation of a great deal of policy as to the process of using the iPads in the school. This school actually had all students enrolled in the grade 9 class take a 6 week course on digital citizenship, communication and apps as part of their being able to use this technology. Part of the benefit of assigning the iPads to the students was a green philosophy that encouraged the students to go paperless with their education. Students and teachers were able to communicate, hand in assignments and assess in a paperless format. The next step that is being pursued by the school is to talk to text book publishers and to go to an online format of the school textbooks, creating an even more "green" community of learners. The entire staff also stresses respect and responsibility and in the first month, only one iPad had been damaged.
While this article states that they spent a lot of time establishing rules and guidelines for this project, it doesn't go in to any detail. I would be curious to know what kinds of safeguards are in place for students and staff under such an initiative. The thought keeps plaguing me as I read of these technologies in the hands of every student initiatives is how one can possibly guarantee privacy rights are being maintained when at just the click of a button, any video or audio clip can be posted to the internet. Once something is posted it is next to impossible to remove it so even if there were some repercussions for the student, sever damage could be done to the reputation of either students or staff. I am curious to know if programs such as there would actually increase the frequency of cyber bullying over time. While I see that there could be many benefits to the increase in technology in the classroom, I can also see how the small minority could cause major problems should they choose to use technology in a negative manner.
Bibliography
Cohen, Sydney. "A 1:1 iPad Initiative-Vision to Reality." Library Media Connection (May/June 2012): 14-16.Print
Foote, Carolyn. "The Evolution of a 1:1 iPad Program." Internet@Schools (January/February 2012): 15-18. Print.
Harris, Christopher. "Going Mobile: Key issues to consider for schools weighing BYOD." School Library Journal (January 2012): 14. Print.
