Horizon Report: Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

Rosemary Pina-Leonard & Matese Wiggins

What is it? Who is doing it? How does

it work? Bring your own device is the practice of people bringing their own devices such as a laptop, smartphone, or tablets to a learning or work environment. (Horizon Report, 2016)

Virtually every student has some sort of device that they use at school. Many are also using their devices for work purposes. Devices are now as common as a refrigerator in the home. Since the introduction of smart phones,information is just a tap or a swipe away.

Why is it significant?

These devices represent a significant change in the way students participate and learn in school and how people conduct business.

What are the potential pitfalls? Security is a prevalent issue. Storage in

the classroom for when the students are not there or the possibility of cheating on electronic test is an issue. Lack of software that ensures privacy on a workstation may not be available on a private device when used for business. Productivity concerns are also an issue. Are the students or employees really working on what they're supposed to or are they on social media?

Where is it going? BYOD is definitely here today and here to stay.

More and more schools are incorporating BYOD programs in school. According to surveys conducted by the Center of Digital Education use in schools have increased 22% to 56% with high schools and middle schools carrying the bulk of such programs (Rivero, 2015).

Technology is becoming more and more portable every year. Smaller tablets, smarter phones, and the possibility of wrist-type technology is in the future. There is a drive towards making digital tools available as integral part of education rather than just episodic interaction in the computer lab (Parsons & Adhikari, 2016).

What research has been

done on this trend?

Research is up and coming on this subject. Many of the articles were written within the last three years. Articles focus mainly on policies and management of BYOD in the classroom and the workplace. However, there have been articles that focus on the use of BYOD’s and learning outcomes.

What research questions

should we be asking?

Some questions that we should ask are;

Is the policy of BYOD a hindrance or an advantage?

Does it address students from every socioeconomic environment?

Does it accommodate all types of learning styles?

What are the implications for teaching

and learning?Some implications for BYOD include virtual classrooms, online learning, research ability, using clickers in the classroom for participation which can be more engaging than raising your hand, video sharing for global connections, creative assessments and projects to demonstrate mastery both in the classroom and the workplace. Teachers are more comfortable in integrating technology since the phenomena of BYOD. Prior to this instructional technologist had to train teachers how to use technology in the classroom.

ReferenceBRUDER, P. (2014). GADGETS GO TO SCHOOL: The Benefits and Risks of BYOD (Bring

Your Own Device). Education Digest, 80(3), 15.

Meyer, L. (2016). 9 Strategies for Managing BYOD in the Classroom. T H E Journal, 43(6), 24.

CARLINER, S., & PRICE, D. W. (2017). BYOD at Work. Training, 54(1), 106-110

Rosenberg, S. (2016). Bring Your Own Device? Make Sure to Cover Your Security and Liability

Concerns, Too. Workforce, 95(9), 26.

Parsons, D., & Adhikari, J. (2016). Bring Your Own Device to Secondary School: The

Perceptions of Teachers, Students and Parents. Electronic Journal Of E-Learning, 14(1), 66-79.

Rivero, V. (2015). The Bring-Your- Own Dilemma. Internet@Schools, 22(2), 7.