BYOT
In the corporate sector IT managers are trying to cope with the ‘impossible’ situation that workers are insisting on coming to work, and doing their work, with their own mobile and work devices and preferred software (Bring Your Own Device or Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT), creating (for the managers, they say) a tsunami of technology management, security, etc, problems. For the workers, they simply know they are more productive and happy using their own devices. The same trend is already dominant in post-secondary and will inevitably prevail in K-12 as devices become more ubiquitous, economical, robust and personalized.
Opportunity Statement
There’s no question that BYOT will ultimately be cheaper and more efficient for both formal and informal education providers, so this transition creates a set of venture opportunities surrounding the content, infrastructure and management of the provision of learning.
Prediction Source(s):
Posted in: Emerging Markets Poll
Kent Jamieson 11:06 am on September 7, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Our school is going completely BYOD next year, with Grades 3-6 having iPads this year, as well as Grade 7 being fully BYOD. I’m all for it, as it further blurs the lines between school and ‘real’ life. Although logistically a nightmare for ICT, the fact remains that eventually nightmares end, we wake up and the sun inevitably rises. Who says it’s just the students that have to learn/adapt/evolve at a school anyway?
tomwhyte1 8:06 pm on September 7, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I went with this one being in my top three for the simple reason of economics. The pace at which technology moves forward is larger than the size of school districts total operating budget, let along the technology portion of it. Therefore, it makes sense (from a school organization sense) that some of this burden is downloaded onto the teaches and students. Yes, the issue of haves and have nots consistently comes into play, yet this argument can be made for many common items in a traditional classroom, pencils, pens, paper, etc… and the school is aware, and does their best (at least in my case) to provide these necessary resources for those students, therefore should technology be any different?
Thoughts?
jameschen 12:50 am on September 8, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I think having the students bring their own technology into education is the next logical step in education because with the world economy moving on a slippery slope educators and decision makers need to make use of all available resources. I vote this as number two on personal opportunity poll.
manny 9:18 am on September 8, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Many districts/businesses are employing this initiative for simple economical reasons. However, before it can be successfully implemented, there are a lot of issues that need to be ironed out. In a classroom setting, it can become a logistical nightmare contending with so many types of different technologies. One could easily spend more time troubleshooting than actually teaching.
tomwhyte1 8:01 pm on September 8, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I can understand how it might become a logistical nightmare. However, in my school, which is slowly adopting a BYOT approach. We as educators are not responsible for the technology working, for it is not our property nor the districts. However, it is our responsibility to create activities that can be completed with or without technology.
Thoughts?
teacherben 10:40 pm on September 8, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I think that a BYOT program would dovetail nicely with a badge initiative. It is tricky to run a lesson on image editing when some kids are using Photoshop, some are using Pages or Keynote, some using Paint.NET and still others using some online tool. But if we design a coherent, student-centered, system based around, in this case, image editing concepts rather than specific skills, then it has a chance to take off. The goal then becomes to support the development of a ‘digital intuition’, where students are able to work their way through unfamiliar software on their own, using concepts that they have learned from other, similar programs.
tomwhyte1 7:14 pm on September 9, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Which I think would parley nicely into 21st century learning skills.
supatel 8:48 am on September 12, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I totally agree with the logistical and technical issues that exit in a BYOD setting. Not all students have or can afford the same software suites. For example, MS Office or Autocad is just too expensive. As educators, its important to adapt to the needs that arise and as a staff we all decided that it would be wise to have student complete all their work in Google Docs, or complete blueprints using Google Sketchup….essentially using free software and cloud technology where available.
Initially it was sort of a night mare, but we decided as a staff that it was a good idea
Shaun Pepper 5:14 am on September 9, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I believe that students should be familiar and choose the technology that best suites them in their learning. These BYOT technologies are simply a tool and some people operate better with different tools. I know I like writing with pencil, but some like writing with pen. Should we force everyone to choose pen?
stammik 7:28 pm on September 9, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
As a number of my colleagues have stated, this is a necessary progression, as most schools including my own, simply can not meet students increasing demand and need for current technology.
adi 8:03 pm on September 9, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
BYOT would not work in a country like Mexico; it would only expose those who have less. There are still many countries where not all kids have a lap top, IPad, Blackberry or Iphone, and even less so access to the Internet on their mobile device.
cunnian 9:21 pm on September 9, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I like this idea where it is possible for it to happen. Funding and socio-economics aside, having students use technology regularly affords many possibilities but also moves them from seeing tech as an event (“We get to use the computers today!”) to being a tool (“We get to create a movie today!”).
longworth 10:44 am on September 10, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I like the idea but I don’t like the idea of so called public education being so costly to the individual families. So if there’s a BYOD policy in the schools there needs to be a tax incentive and some kind of system in place to support families that can’t afford to manage this. To me it is good in theory but I can see if furthering the divide between have and have nots and the pressure on the parents to provide the better devices (because we all know it’s easier when your device is faster, which means newer). I can’t imagine having to provide and maintain the newest technology for all three of my children.
supatel 10:47 am on September 10, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Our school board has installed WAPs in every school with hopes that students bring their own learning devices. As long as students can remember their email username and password, they can log into the LAWN (Learner Accessable Wireless Network), and use the internet as a resource for learning anywhere in the school. Students can use the various apps available on their mobile devices to connect with other learners, or simply use it to access course content housed online.
Lisa Nevoral 7:26 pm on September 10, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I would have to say that this is my number one personal choice. My district is going towards BYOT and I would like to see how it could be managed and used within schools.
melissaayers 8:39 am on September 12, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
This is an interesting topic, I have seen it in the corporate world but did not realise that it was starting to be addressed in educational institutions as well. While it’s definitely not a field I have too much knowledge (ICT) in I realise the huge potential for an opportunity (and challenge) for entrepreneur if they can embrace this and come up with innovative solutions and support.