While
quite a few K-12 school districts now have 1:1 programs to provide a Chromebook
or other digital device to every student for classwork, Bring Your Own Device
(BYOD) or Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) programs have found favor in many
other districts for combining that same sort of access with lower expenditures
and fewer technical hassles.
Initial
concerns that students would use their devices to play games, watch cat videos,
or access social media during school have been dispelled by strict use policies,
detailed communication with parents and families, and efforts to instruct
children on responsible behavior both online and in the classroom.
Although
there is usually flexibility to allow students to use a device with which they’re
most comfortable, in some districts smartphones are not among the permitted
devices. The preference is for something with a screen large enough for
students to write and create diagrams. If a child doesn’t have an appropriate
device of their own—or doesn’t want to bring it to school—they may be given
access to a district-supplied Chromebook or tablet.
