Learning Technologies & Solutions SP15: Bring your own technology

Bring your own technology (BYOT)

Bring your own technology (BYOT) is a policy that allows employees or students to use their own personal electronic devices at work or class. It concern to children bringing their own technology like smart phones, tablets, and laptops for educational use and improvements in their learning methods. With perceptive planning, written school strategy, and a filtered network, children can bring their own technology devices to utilize them for engaging learning activities. It is an effective development for the schools across many countries but needs to be strategized properly. Regardless of how a device is acquired, who actually owns it or who pays for net connectivity, if the device connects to a school network or corporate network, and IT department needs to secure and manage the tool. This is a main focus of what is often referred to as IT consumerization. BYOT is also referred to as bring your own device (BYOD). More specific variations on the term include bring your own computer, bring your own laptop and bring your own PC.

In the past, schools provide the technology which student wants, but as economic problems emerge and technology became more costly, the BYOD is best for a student. Basically, the schools are making the parents of these students to purchase the devices so that they can use the technology at school. Today, many schools are shifting their focus from prohibiting mobiles in campus environment, to include BYOD as a way to revise teaching and learning, improve student commitment, improve operational ability, expand collaboration, boost staff productivity and expand the capabilities of existing technology foundation. The right BYOD solution enables schools to protect their technology investment by building on what they already have while retaining the flexibility to adapt to new methods, solutions, and devices as they arise.

Advantages

Makes cost of education cheaper.
Provides a big teaching arsenal for teaching staff, allowing students to view videos, e-textbooks, online research, educational applications, digital learning applications, etc. This method of provision allows improving ideas and teachings, and combines the learning. So it is called as Blended Learning.
Less confusion, since the student can use the device at school or at home. This will make a main way for students to understand the apps much better, make better use of projects and make learning more fun.
Filtering software becoming available to break some disadvantages, which are listed next.
Makes learning more comfortable. Students are fonder in to technology, so the effectiveness of learning would be better for students.
Digitized classrooms, which brings back instant results in points systems and other applications. The teaching staff can have their own subscription to the provided services, while the students use their subscription. the answers and project reports entered by students were graded automatically and sent to the teacher.
Gamification brings knowledgeable games which helps in the learning program and make student more interested in learning.

Disadvantages

The main disadvantage in doing the BYOD philosophy is the inability to remove unwanted text, images, videos, etc. Teachers would still have to check each student whether they’re doing task or not.
Ability to filter out gaming is a problem.
Inappropriate digital gadgets being brought to school.
Forgotten or lost or damaged device.
Students who are below poverty line cannot afford these devices.
Schools not well prepared with the proper wireless gadgets, and other technologies such as software applications.