I liked how the article started off by stating that we all need
to agree that technology is MUST in today’s classroom. It is as essential as (or even more than)
paper and pencil. I believe we still
have some teacher who needs convincing of this.
One reason I believe teachers are so reluctant to use more technology in
their classrooms, especially BYOD, is the classroom management aspect of
BYOD. I really liked the comparison of
texting to note passing. I have never
really thought of how obsolete note passing has become. However, I have noticed the texting. As I began my journey in implementing BYOD in
my classroom texting was my biggest fear.
I was pleasantly surprised about how my students handled having their
phones and not texting.
The articles next main point was that just because your
adding more technology to your classroom does not mean you need to start
managing your classroom differently. I
liked the key point the author made by saying teachers must manage the students
not their technology tools.
Another statement that stuck out to me was the one about
instructional design impacts classroom management in a BYOD setting. I don’t only strongly believe, and I’m not
sure how anyone could argue, that this is true in a BYOD classroom but in ALL
classroom. Keeping student busy, engaged
and learning is key in all classrooms.
One of the most important things the author pointed out was making sure
there was never downtime for the students. The downtime is definitely when you
see the behavior issues when using BYOD in your classroom. I try to avoid it at all cost by
differentiating instruction and always having extension activity on hand.
The final part of the article stated some classroom
management strategies. To be honest
most of them seemed like common sense to me.
The first one talked about walking around the room, of course if you are
sitting at your desk the entire class there will be students off task, not
doing what they should be doing, it seemed like a no brainer to me. The second strategy, I did like and never
really thought of. I will definitely be
using it in my classroom. I especially
liked the idea of having student simply flip over their mobile device while the
teacher is giving directions.
Overall I felt the article would be a great article to sent
out to teachers who are thinking about incorporating BYOD in their classroom, I
may even share it with my team in hopes to get more of them to implement BYOD
in their classroomsJ
These are some good points taken from the article. I feel like when schools and districts go BYOD, there is too much of an emphasis put on the devices and not the teaching/engaged learning. This article does a good job of starting that conversation that the device is just a tool, another piece of the learning pie, not the whole thing. As leaders in educational technology, I think the easiest way for us to relate this to other teachers/staff is to find non-technology comparisons that others might be able to relate to more.
ReplyDeleteThat said, teachers also need to realize that each class could and SHOULD be different. What works in one class for a specific grade/building might not work elsewhere, and that's OK. Not only with BYOD but with all things technology and education, we need to be comfortable with change and always be changing/updating to keep students engaged in their learning.
Think of the professional development revolving BYOD. So much of what our PD centers around would intimidates a novice. I like the how you suggested finding non-technology comparisons. I think this type of PD could be reassuring to someone who is not tech savvy and give them confidence to adopt a more open BYOD platform.
DeleteI agree that when we discuss the importance of PD for BYOD, there needs to be a large emphasis on the perspective of viewing technology as a 'tool' for learning and not an annoyance or distraction from learning.
DeleteThe amount of buy in will depend on this and I feel that our district is handling the approach in a wise way. I appreciate that OHLSD is trying to gradually come into the BYOD as a whole district rather than forcing it and also this allows for those teachers that are reluctant to ease their way in at their own pace. From the teachers that I have spoken to that use it, it is very positive and problems seem to be at a minimum, much due to the classroom management being in place.
Technology and BYOD get a bad rap in the classroom in certain circles. I like how this article simplified BYOD into simple classroom management terms. As Melissa stated, some teachers fear the thought of technology in the classroom. Why? I really enjoyed how this article reminded us that BYOD is just a tool...another way to TEACH. Teaching is still about planning, strong lessons, engaged students, and classroom management. BYOD is just a tool to help facilitate the learning. Teaching principles do not change just because a student uses a device instead of a book.
ReplyDeleteThe planning is important and should not be assumed to take care of itself once the students are on the devices. I have had some experience when allowing the students time to research apps to use for a particular project...there needs to be a decided time allotment and also an end product (Google doc shared where they enter their findings or a blog response set up that can verify that they worked on the assigned material). some of the techniques that they mentioned here were like Claus said common sense but many teachers would take the wrong approach and sit back - I have found myself not sitting down much at all on a normal day .. but especially when using BYOD... kids are much more apt to stay on task ...if you are 'walking around' using yet another acronym MBWA (I especially liked all of the visuals/cartoons in this article).
DeleteBen, I definitely agree with you on this. I think BYOD does get a bad rap at times. I can understand the fear though. So many teachers are used to being the masters of their content and the "all knowing" in their classroom. Technology takes teachers out of that comfort zone. They are never going to know more about the technology than the students know and that's scar to them. Teachers are going to have to learn how to utilize and harness the technology in their classroom and that comes with learning how to harness the students. This article does give some very clear and simple concrete recommendations for how to start doing this.
DeleteFor some teachers, BYOD means a big change in their way of teaching, possibly in ways that they've never had to adapt and change before. When students bring devices and use them for educational gain, a little bit of control is taken from the teacher, which is a change for many. The student does not completely rely on the teacher any more, but I would argue it should be this way regardless of what technology is in the classroom. Gone are the days of learning consisting of a teacher in front talking and students readying straight from a textbook. Education has changed and for the sake of our students, teachers need to adapt and embrace this.
DeleteI agree with Ben, planning is the best way to maintain engagement with your students. Moreover, the article did help assuage the fears many have about BYOD. Many of us do teach the way we were taught, and we all fall back into that comfort zone. This is a major issue, however, we are at the forefront, it is up to us to change the culture. The practices that worked in the past can still work, just with a different vehicle- the device. We can still have collaboration, exit slips, formative assessments, reflective writing, note taking and analysis, we just have different tools- and it is up to us to become comfortable using those tools.
DeleteI like how Melissa pointed out the comparison that the article made between note taking and texting. I also like in the article when they elaborated on the managing of students, not tools. They put it in simple terms and said that you would never think about managing pencil behavior, textbook behavior, or calculator behavior...and that is so true. I never really thought of it that way before. I think this is what Ben and Christian pointed out as well.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Melissa that this article would be a great quick read for someone who was contemplating on taking the leap of face in their classroom and wanting to begin using a BYOD policy. The article gives teachers some quick and simple strategies that they could implement immediately.
I completely agree with you about how we need to treat these devices as another tool in the classroom, like a calculator or a pencil. While I wasn't teaching at the time, I'm sure that teachers were really concerned when we started bringing in calculators to class. Today, calculators are an everyday part of the math classroom. I feel as though this is just the next tool being introduced into the classroom. I also feel that some are hesitant about technology in the classroom because they themselves don't fully understand what these devices can do. As we all know, the fear of the unknown is a very powerful deterent. Hopefully articles like this can help calm those fears.
DeleteI agree, BYOD is definitely in the category of "fear of the unknown". As more teachers implement BYOD and share their stories, and as more students share their learning experiences, more teachers will be apt to use BYOD in the classroom because they will start to see the learning benefits. This article should definitely be shared with any teacher who is unsure regarding the implementation of BYOD.
DeleteMelissa I really like what you and the article has to say about how texting has become the new note passing. I had never really thought about it like that either. That question then lead me to think about what do we do when students pass notes? We don't take their paper and pens away from them and refuse to allow them to have it in class. Instead we establish rules and procedures that gives students directions on how to use the tools they have. After coming to this realization, I realized how crazy it is that we tell students to put their cell phones away or take them away. Why not treat their devices like we do everything else they have in the classroom? I think this is how we can help those who are more resistant to technology in the classroom see this. I believers presented like this, that it could be an easier transition for them as the district adopts this initiative (I feel like the word initiative is not what we should use because I believe that having technology in the classroom is essential and not something that we are just doing. Does anyone else have a better term?).
ReplyDeleteAs we begin to have students bring their own devices, we are going to have new challenges. However, these challenges do not have to be something that we need to be worried about. Like you and the article brought up, most of the strategies are common sense and when we put rules and procedures in place many of these challenges can be managed.
I think that you are right about how this article could be helpful for teachers and give them a different perspective than they may have now. I think that I may share this with a couple of teachers that are struggling with the idea of BYOD right now.
Melissa and I had the same fears, but classroom presence is a big key. We have to maintain our presence throughout the classroom, and we have to be clear about our expectations for our students, and be consistent in carrying out our punishments. Fortunately, little things do help- keeping the kids busy, having them share their notes, or their reflections, spin the computer around when they are done, keep phones face down when we "go red." All of these steps can be taken and maintained in a classroom, if we just try and remain consistent.
DeleteI couldn't agree with both of you more. Too many teachers avoid simply because they are afraid of the classroom management issues that could surround the use of BYOD (afraid of that unknown, which is completely natural), but really the solution just boils down to basic classroom management. Keep the kids busy, make sure they are always engaged with a variety of learning options, making sure you constantly walking around the classroom, and make sure the kids devices are upside down on the desk when you are giving instructions. Classroom management really hasn't changed much! I think some teachers just fear that they are not allowed to control the use of student devices due to the fact the kids "own" the devices. I think PD is definitely necessary to clear up these misconceptions.
DeleteI agree, Melissa. When it comes to managing a classroom, all structure and routine should be in place regardless of BYOD implementation. If you can't control students with a pencil and paper, you can't control what they do on a device. As one of my management practices, I made sure that the students (during the first attempts at things) remained with me. I would model on the smartboard, then have them follow along. As we practiced more and more, the kids were soon able to go on their own. If a student did not follow the class rules, they lost their device for that activity, day or privileges were revoked.
ReplyDelete