BYOD at the Elementary Level

I once again reached out to my PLN Tribe at Facebook Group Technology Teacher Tribe With Brittany Washburn.  I received quite a few responses and most of them were at the middle and high school levels. Sonya Luker Bryant was so generous in her time and resources and just so happens to also teach elementary technology in a K-5 setting.  I picked her brain and she offered lots of great resources that can help teachers with BYOD

Q and A with Sonya Luker Bryant, Elementary Technology Teacher

• What grades do you teach?

Grades Kindergarten-5th technology lab

• What is your school policy around BYOD?

We have a district policy. Here is a link to the District’sGuide on BYOD. She also shared the following slides that her school uses to ensure that students know the expectations of BYOD in the school.

• Do all students have access to a device if they can't bring one in?

Most students bring their own and kindergarten starts after Christmas so Santa can bring it. My school also purchase tablets for the classroom. 4 tablets each year for 3-4-5 grades. 3 tablets for k-1-2. Some of our teachers have done the donors choose and have gotten tablets for their classroom.

• What parental involvement is required regarding the BYOD policy and are they supportive of the BYOD initiative?

Parents and students must sign an agreement each year allowing their student to participate. Most sign. Kindergarten and 1st are our most skeptical group because of their age. But we have very supportive parents because we use our tablets on a daily basis. So if the parent didn’t sign at first they usually give in because their child sees the others using theirs and bug mom and dad.

• What challenges (technical and policy related) have you faced?

We have some technical issues with our wireless network very seldom but occasionally it’s down. Students learn to work through those days. Challenges for policy: just make sure your teachers are communicating their expectations with students when they are using their tablets. We have school rules and expectations that are covered every year with all classes in the technology lab —my job

• What have you learned from the experience?

I have learned that BYOD is good if your teachers are on board with the rules, expectations and following through with consequences. It’s good because most if not all students get exposed to technology on a daily basis.

Overall, her District has really given great thought to their BYOD policy and it's implementation. I am extremely impressed with the fact that it is occurring at the elementary level. Most respondents to my inquiry were Middle and High School Students.