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| Photo Credit: fishbraintexas via Flickr |
Time was, one of central arguments in support of school uniforms
was that they create an atmosphere of "sameness," where students
would not be ridiculed or bullied for having less-than-fashionable clothing or
for being unable to afford the newest trends. Seems like that argument
can now be extended to electronic devices. Some schools that are not able
to afford 1:1 devices are encouraging students to bring their own. While
this kind of policy would put tablets, phones, laptops, or e-readers in the hands
of students, and students who bring their own devices to school would be more
comfortable by using their own personal devices, it does beg the question of
equality.
According to Albert Roberts, a high school teacher from the UK,
"By allowing people to bring in their own devices, employers and schools
create a greater consistency between how employees and students normally access
information and learn, and the standards set within the workplace and the
classroom." Roberts goes on to explain that schools, particularly
those with lower budgets, can free up their ICT programs to be more flexible
with internal networks and setting up class projects. However, this
uniformity comes at a cost.
In addition to potential security breaches and network security
being compromised, the specter of bullying remains a threat. Out of date
devices or devices which lack the proper appeal may cause students to belittle
others, and students whose devices don't measure up may feel ashamed.
This kind of bullying and the perceived gap between the "haves"
and the "have-nots" are exactly the thing schools are trying to
avoid today.
One suggestion offered by Roberts is a shared purchasing scheme,
where the school would buy a number of devices at discounted rates, and then
issue them to low-income students for use at school. Roberts acknowledges
that this doesn't solve the gap between BYOD and school equipment, but he
posits this idea as just one possible alternative. Ultimately, the answer
lies somewhere in the middle. Schools need to have specific policies in
place to regulate the use of BYOD equipment for academic purposes, and they
need to create an atmosphere of cooperation and acceptance relative to the use
of those devices.
That is an interesting article. Unfortunately there will never be a time when bullying disappears. Students will find one way or another to do it. As with everything else, we a teachers need to educate our students about proper etiquette while using electronic devices too. Even with the possible threat of bullying I would still encourage my school to adopt the BYOD policy. However, I first have to convince them to get rid of the ban on a personal devices in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Dave, kids are just mean sometimes. They will always find a way to bully someone. At least BYOD opens the doors and allows these technologies to begin to enter the classroom. I would hope kids could eventually see how having the shiniest, newest gadget doesn't always transfer to academic achievement. I would also hope a community of shared interests would emerge. I can imagine students being excited about the new way they found to tackle a topic using their own technology, and sharing their experiences with their classmates. This way everyone becomes part of the "haves". Very interesting article. Made me think, "can't we all just get along?"
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