Pocket Calculator”. This piece of technology was powered by one nine volt battery that would last anywhere from six to eight months. My grandfather had given me this pocket calculator for my tenth birthday. I thought it was the coolest thing ever as it could solve mathematical equations faster than anyone I knew. I would often challenge my older bother with mathematical questions that I rehearsed and memorized using my personal computing machine. To his amazement, nine times out of ten, I was able to spit out the correct answer before he was able to. Thinking back to my elementary school days, the only personal device that I owned was a “
At school, my teachers discouraged me from bringing my calculator as they thought it would not be very helpful for me to learn math. “Bringing Your Own Calculator” (BYOC) to school, at first, was not accepted by many educational professionals. I would often hide my pocket calculator in my lunch bag and bring it out and during recess so that I could practice basic math facts. Today, many elementary school teachers have class sets of hand held calculators, teach students how to use then and encourage students to use them.
It was not that long ago that teachers were discouraging students from bringing mp3 players, cell phones and other personal electronic devices to school because many educators feared that the devices would interfere with student learning. Today, schools across the country are encouraging students to connect their “personally-owned device (such as a laptop, smartphone or tablet) to a Wifi network provided” (NEN, 2013). After exploring the use of personally owned devices, authorities with the Alberta Ministry of Education reported that students using personally owned devices were more engaged and invested in their learning (Alberta Government, 2012).
At school, my teachers discouraged me from bringing my calculator as they thought it would not be very helpful for me to learn math. “Bringing Your Own Calculator” (BYOC) to school, at first, was not accepted by many educational professionals. I would often hide my pocket calculator in my lunch bag and bring it out and during recess so that I could practice basic math facts. Today, many elementary school teachers have class sets of hand held calculators, teach students how to use then and encourage students to use them.
It was not that long ago that teachers were discouraging students from bringing mp3 players, cell phones and other personal electronic devices to school because many educators feared that the devices would interfere with student learning. Today, schools across the country are encouraging students to connect their “personally-owned device (such as a laptop, smartphone or tablet) to a Wifi network provided” (NEN, 2013). After exploring the use of personally owned devices, authorities with the Alberta Ministry of Education reported that students using personally owned devices were more engaged and invested in their learning (Alberta Government, 2012).
About five years ago, I began bringing my personal laptop computer to school so that I could teach my students how to create stop motion animation videos. I brought my own laptop because I was unable to download and install the required free software onto school computers. Additionally, school computers did not have the necessary “system requirements” needed to run the software. I found students very motivated and excited to work as a team to create a short stop motion animation video. Using my personal laptop, the number of students working on a project was limited to four to five students at a time. I can only imagine what my class could have created if each of them had their own person device to use at school.
In my experience, many educators are afraid of change and afraid of technology. One of the challenges I see with personal devices is trying to keep up with learning all the new technologies that are being developed. As many highly experienced educators are not familiar with technology, it is difficult to have them “buy in” to the educational benefits of using technology in education. In addition, many families do not have the financial resources to pay for the hardware, software and the internet connection required to participate in an online learning environment. School districts themselves are struggling with the financial burden of replacing and/or updating the technology that is supposed to enhance learning. Low Bandwidth can be a huge drawback when trying to use personal devices.
In my experience, many educators are afraid of change and afraid of technology. One of the challenges I see with personal devices is trying to keep up with learning all the new technologies that are being developed. As many highly experienced educators are not familiar with technology, it is difficult to have them “buy in” to the educational benefits of using technology in education. In addition, many families do not have the financial resources to pay for the hardware, software and the internet connection required to participate in an online learning environment. School districts themselves are struggling with the financial burden of replacing and/or updating the technology that is supposed to enhance learning. Low Bandwidth can be a huge drawback when trying to use personal devices.
I think educators need to learn from past experiences and be more open and accepting of the use of personal devices to improve learning. With improved access, common tools, proper training, and knowledgeable tech support, teachers could create “learning opportunities that bridge the formal learning… with the informal” (Alberta Government, 2012). I strongly believe that we should forge ahead and institute mLearning via BYOD in order to benefit most students. The potential to open up new opportunities for student will have challenges along the way, but the benefits outweigh the risks. According to the Alberta government portable devices increase the opportunity for students to:
• Engage in inquiry learning
• Communicate effectively with peers, experts and their teachers
• Personalize learning
• Demonstrate their learning through media of their choice
• Express their ideas in public forums
• Access libraries of digital content that provide multiple pathways to learning
• Pursue real-world issues and topics of deep interest
• Attain digital citizenship
• Provide equitable learning opportunities, especially for students with special needs
• Explore and construct ideas, opinions, arguments and evidence-based reasoning collaboratively (Alberta Government, 2012)
Over the past decade, our ability to access information has significantly improved. We are becoming more reliant on digital information (data, communication, entertainment, etc) and the amount of time we are spending interacting with the digital information continues to go up. According to NEN – The Education Network, allowing students to bring their own devices “provides personalization opportunities, encourages flexibility & self-directed learning and provides a bridge between formal and informal learning” (NEN, 2013). When students can participate in and determine the pace and the direction of their learning, their desire to learn will increase. These opportunities will certainly prepare them for future employment opportunities.
• Engage in inquiry learning
• Communicate effectively with peers, experts and their teachers
• Personalize learning
• Demonstrate their learning through media of their choice
• Express their ideas in public forums
• Access libraries of digital content that provide multiple pathways to learning
• Pursue real-world issues and topics of deep interest
• Attain digital citizenship
• Provide equitable learning opportunities, especially for students with special needs
• Explore and construct ideas, opinions, arguments and evidence-based reasoning collaboratively (Alberta Government, 2012)
Over the past decade, our ability to access information has significantly improved. We are becoming more reliant on digital information (data, communication, entertainment, etc) and the amount of time we are spending interacting with the digital information continues to go up. According to NEN – The Education Network, allowing students to bring their own devices “provides personalization opportunities, encourages flexibility & self-directed learning and provides a bridge between formal and informal learning” (NEN, 2013). When students can participate in and determine the pace and the direction of their learning, their desire to learn will increase. These opportunities will certainly prepare them for future employment opportunities.
References
NEN - The Education Network. (2013, April ). Technical strategy guidance note 5: Bring your own device (BYOD). Retrieved from http://www.nen.gov.uk/files/http://www.nen.gov.uk/files/NEN_Guidance_Note_5_BYOD.pdf
Alberta Government. Minister of Education, School Technology Branch. (2012). Bring your own device: A guide for schools. Retrieved from website: https://education.alberta.ca/media/6749210/byod guide revised 2012-09-05.pdf
NEN - The Education Network. (2013, April ). Technical strategy guidance note 5: Bring your own device (BYOD). Retrieved from http://www.nen.gov.uk/files/http://www.nen.gov.uk/files/NEN_Guidance_Note_5_BYOD.pdf
Alberta Government. Minister of Education, School Technology Branch. (2012). Bring your own device: A guide for schools. Retrieved from website: https://education.alberta.ca/media/6749210/byod guide revised 2012-09-05.pdf