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Justin Eversole

Mrs. Dara Bigler

Technology For Teachers

March 5, 2017

Students Bringing Their Own Device Into the Classroom

The use of technology has become a major part of our childrens everyday life and now

schools and teachers are finding themselves at a crossroad on whether or not to implement the

use of technology into the classroom. Ushering classrooms into the 21st century is an

expensive undertaking, and not all school districts have the budgets to purchase computers,

tablets, iPads/iPods, Kindles and other devices for their students to use in class (Chadband). So

some school districts and teachers are now allowing students to bring their own devices, such as

smartphones and tablets, from home to use to complete class projects or accessing learning

resources while at school (What is BYOD, 2016). Laura Daniel, an English teacher at

Clinton High School, allows students in her classroom to use their cell phones for individual

reading using the Kindle app and to share links to articles via Twitter that she wants her class to

read. I think its fine for implementing devices to use with activities where you are looking for

background knowledge, but not as the basis for your entire lesson (Daniel, Interview).

School districts and teachers have a lot to take into consideration on whether or not they

wish to allow students to bring their own technology from home. Educators in favor of BYOD

feel that it promotes greater participation in the classroom. When new technologies are

incorporated into everyday learning, students quickly become more interested in the material,

and thus more likely to succeed (What is BYOD, 2016). Other benefits of allowing students

to bring technology to the classroom is peace of mind for parents, instant access to answers,
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wider access to information, access to videos, and social learning (Pros and Cons, 2016). The

pros to students having their own technology during class is the already know how to work their

device and the school doesnt have to buy extra devices (Daniel, interview). However, the main

concern among teachers is that the presence of electronic devices in the classroom will promote

distraction on the part of students (What is BYOD, 2016) . Other cons to students bringing

their own devices to class are inappropriate material, distractions from schoolwork,

cyberbullying, and providing dis-connect (Pros and Cons, 2016). Susan Potter, Kindergarten

teacher at Henry Elementary, who has been teaching for 18 years and has a BYOD device plan

in her district has seen kids lose face to face time with their peers and adults because of the

constant use of devices at home and in school (Potter, Interview).

In conclusion school administrators and/or teachers will have to make the decision on if

they are willing to allow students to bring their own devices into the classroom. Students should

be taught online safety, the use of judgment in determining good quality sources of information,

and restraint from personal use in the classroom (Pros and Cons, 2016). If schools or teachers

decide such use is permitted in class, there should be guidelines and rules set in place by the

school and/or teacher. Emily Combs, a 7th grade math teacher at Clinton Middle School, allows

her students to use devices in her classroom periodically and she uses a color coding system that

informs her students whether they may use devices on that particular assignment. Green means

they may get out their devices or get out of the school cart and get started with the directions on

the board. Yellow means they may have them out but do not start until given specific

instructions. And red means no device is allowed (Combs, Interview). It is so important that

the expectations be clear from the beginning on students using their device in the classroom

(Combs, interview).
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Works Cited

Chadband, Emma. Should Schools Embrace Bring Your Own Device?. Education Policy.

neaToday, 19 July 2012. Web. 1 March 2017. http://neatoday.org/2012/07/19/should-

schools-embrace-bring-your-own-device/

Combs, Emily. Personal Interview. 28 February 2017

Daniel, Laura. Personal Interview. 22 February 2017

Potter, Susan. Personal Interview. 22 February 2017

Pros and Cons of Allowing Digital Devices in the Classroom. Educational Technology.

Concordia University, 6 January 2016. Web. 1 March 2017. http://education.cu-

portland.edu/blog/tech-ed/pros-and-cons-of-allowing-digital-devices-in-the-classroom/

What is BYOD and Why Should Teachers Care?. Educational Technology. Concordia

University, 7 January 2016. Web. 1 March 2017. http://education.cu-

portland.edu/blog/tech-ed/what-is-byod-bring-your-own-device-and-why-should-

teachers-care/