How to make BYOD work for your schools

Ed-tech directors share their strategies for meeting challenges such as access, security

By Laura Devaney, Managing Editor
Read more by Laura Devaney

“With classroom teacher approval, students may register and use their own devices to access the internet and collaborate with other students,” according to the district’s BYOD website. “By allowing students to use their own technology on campus, we are hoping to increase the access all students have to the technology they need to succeed.”

The district’s four-page BYOD acceptable use policy and permission form outlines expected student behavior associated with bringing personally owned devices to school.

Once students and their parents complete the form, Torre said, students can register their device at their school, where it will be approved for use on the district’s network during the school day. Students are allowed to register up to three devices.

“Personally owned devices supplement FCPS-owned laptops and electronic resources.  Students who don’t have their own device or choose not to bring one to school can use school-provided devices, ensuring everyone has the same access in the classroom,” Torre said. “Technology is a part of every student’s life, and this is a new way to extend the learning environment.”

George C. Marshall High School in Falls Church, Va., operates on a “Color Code Usage System” for student devices.

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A red zone indicates that all electronic devices are prohibited, and students found with devices in this zone, such as during tests, will have test results voided with no makeup opportunity.

The yellow zone means that students can have possession of their devices, but they must be silent and out of sight. Blue zones mean that devices are permitted for specific instructional use, and green zones indicate general and open use of devices, such as in the cafeteria.

Additionally, school officials decided that teachers and other staff will not store or hold onto student devices. School IT staff do not support, repair, or troubleshoot student devices, and students are encouraged to charge their devices fully before school, because the school does not guarantee the necessary time or power to charge the device during the day.

Students receive school-issued stickers for each approved device, and they must display those stickers on their devices at all times when they are in use.

The Klein Independent School District in Texas devotes a specific portion of its BOYD policy to staff-student communication. The policy says:

“Communication with students through the use of text messaging is permitted only by staff members who have extracurricular responsibilities and the students participating in the extracurricular activity over which the employee is responsible. All communication must comply with the following rules: