Cuyahoga Falls School District Adopts 'Bring Your Own Technology'

Across the country school districts face tight budgets and growing demands to raise student achievement.

At the same time critics charge that educational policies and practices have fallen behind the world that surrounds them.

That students now have more access to information on their smart phones than they do in their classrooms. Starting in the 2012-2013 school year, the joins the ranks of other leading schools across the country that have turned contraband into innovation by embracing mobile devices in the classroom.

The concept, known as 'Bring Your Own Technology' or BYOT, is changing the traditional methods of K-12 teaching and offering schools advanced, affordable solutions that create a more collaborative, engaging, and personalized learning environment for students.

So what exactly is Bring Your Own Technology? At it’s essence BYOT is simply using your own personal technology, such as a smart phone, tablet, e-reader, or other mobile device, to increase your productivity and efficiency.

The phenomena started with the rising capabilities of these devices that allowed users to become more productive in business and on college campuses. Freed from lugging around books and laptops, sharing computers, or using out-of-date equipment, employees and college students started using their own personal mobile devices to enhance learning and job performance.

With the popularity of BYOT growing in the workplace, it only makes sense that schools leverage the concept in the classroom, while at the same time guiding students on how to use their mobile devices in a productive and responsible way.

While specific guidelines are currently under development for the Cuyahoga Falls school district, the general idea will be that students will be permitted to bring their own mobile technology to use OPENLY in the classroom, so long as their device can be used for instructional purposes.

So how exactly can students use their personal mobile devices in the classroom?

Take the traditional pen and paper note-taking we've all done in the past. Smart phones and tablets have software applications (called apps) that not only allow the user to take notes, but also incorporate web content, audio (such as lectures), and video recordings.

If a student encounters an unfamiliar word they can easily look it up on their device.

Need to do some on the spot research? Again, no problem as the web is at their fingertips.

Mathematics can be brought to life by using maps and GPS capabilities on devices to calculate distances or compare routes. Instead of reading about far away places or historical events in a textbook, they can be explored with real-time video, photographs, maps, weather, and other geological data.

Student presentations can be created and displayed with ease on smartboards. Mobile devices can be used on field trips or in classes such as chemistry to record data or film experiments for later review, or taken home and shared with family (great for increasing parental involvement!)

Because BYOT brings information on demand, it gives students the opportunity to engage and personalize their educational experience by going far beyond what's available in the traditional classroom.

There are concerns that students will access inappropriate online content, use their devices to cheat, or text in class. 

The real division between apprehension and enthusiasm is not difficulty creating effective policy, but familiarity with the devices. This will change as administrators, teachers, and parents increasingly become mobile device users themselves. 

School administrators should be careful not to overthink, or worse, overwrite corresponding policy adjustments that stifle the creative implementation of devices.

The district's acceptable-use policy should reflect a 21st century culture while at the same time treating violations the same as other behavioral issues. For instance, using a smart phone to cheat should be treated no differently than other forms of cheating and similarly, disrupting class by exchanging text messages should be treated no differently than passing notes.

The other issue is affordability.

While owning a mobile device can pay for itself in the long haul, not every student is in a situation where they can afford the upfront cost. Schools can help alleviate this in a variety of ways, from renting devices for a nominal fee tomaking them available for check out at the library at no cost.

Parent/Teacher associations should consider implementing recycling programs where discarded devices can be donated to the district and passed on to students.

The Cuyahoga Falls School District and its leadership should not only be praised for helping to shape teaching and learning in the 21st century but also for leading the way for other school districts by documenting best practices for launching a successful mobile device teaching and learning program.