Bring your own device has some definite pros and cons. Some of these are presented in the article "Should Schools Embrace 'Bring Your Own Device'?" by T. Walker and posted on the NEA Today website. For schools that are already budget strapped, bring your own device seems to be a viable option. Students can still receive the benefits of using a smartphone or tablet, and the school is not responsible for the cost. Bring your own device can also help teachers utilize the flipped classroom model because the students can view videos on their own device at home.
In order for bring your own device to be utilized, the school must have the correct infrastructure. Students must be able to log on to a network so guest passwords have to be available. If the students know the password, then they can log on and search the web and use other applications when needed, but that also means that students can abuse this privilege. The article recommends having the students sign a contract to avoid/limit this type of situation. The article also encourages teacher training on how to implement bring your own device programs before being thrown into the program.
The article also suggests that bring your own device can increase the digital divide. Not all students will have access to a smartphone or tablet to use. The article states that "students who need to borrow a device should be able to do so without facing any stigma." It says that more teasing could occur because students who cannot afford the newest technology could be targeted.
http://neatoday.org/2012/07/19/should-schools-embrace-bring-your-own-device/
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