What benefits do you think BYOD offers?
Research shows that the use of Digital Technologies increases student engagement and motivation for learning across the curriculum. We believe BYOD allows us to differentiate learning for individual students, providing increased and enhanced learning and opportunities for student choice. We believe BYOD provides increased opportunities and empowers collaboration and creativity. It offers our children the ability to connect to each other as well as make authentic learning connections to the wider world. We acknowledge the global movement towards knowledge (and learning) that is ubiquitous (can happen anywhere, at any time), and believe BYOD supports this idea. We also believe BYOD supports the vision of the NZ Curriculum for “young people as lifelong learners who are confident and creative, connected, and actively involved.” Our school charter requires that we help children to ‘develop the necessary digital citizenship skills to participate fully in a knowledge society’, and this is reflected in our newly revised vision for ‘empowered, innovative and connected learners, driving their passion for learning’.
What device is required?
If you choose to bring a device to school, we are recommending an Apple iPad or iPad mini. Our teachers have had Professional Development and experience over the last few years with the use of iPads to support teaching and learning in their communities. Although our teachers won’t be offering specific technical advice or support, they are familiar with the use of iPads and will be able to assist with basic trouble-shooting.
The device your child uses does not have to be new or the latest model, but we do ask that you check the battery life is sufficient to last for a full school day without being charged, and that the device you choose is able to run the apps we have suggested we will use.
The device your child uses does not have to be new or the latest model, but we do ask that you check the battery life is sufficient to last for a full school day without being charged, and that the device you choose is able to run the apps we have suggested we will use.
How will my child use their device in their daily programme?
Devices will be used as and when required to support and enhance your child’s learning. This does not mean the device will be used constantly – there may be some days when it receives very little use, and others when it is used extensively.
Your child may use their device to research a topic proposed by their teacher, or an area of personal interest. They might use their device to present their understandings of a topic to a small group, or to the whole class. They might use an app on their device to explore a concept in greater detail (perhaps they need further support or extension of their current knowledge). They might use their device to explore or create links between what they are learning at school and experiences they have had at home.
Devices will be used at the discretion and invitation of teachers. If your child is found to be using a device inappropriately, their access will be restricted. This is in line with our current school-wide Acceptable Use Policy.
Your child may use their device to research a topic proposed by their teacher, or an area of personal interest. They might use their device to present their understandings of a topic to a small group, or to the whole class. They might use an app on their device to explore a concept in greater detail (perhaps they need further support or extension of their current knowledge). They might use their device to explore or create links between what they are learning at school and experiences they have had at home.
Devices will be used at the discretion and invitation of teachers. If your child is found to be using a device inappropriately, their access will be restricted. This is in line with our current school-wide Acceptable Use Policy.
My child can't look after a lunch box / pencil case / sweatshirt... How will they be able to look after an expensive device?
Anecdotal evidence suggests children value a device far more than their lunch box, pencil case or sweatshirt, and are therefore more likely to take reasonable care of their device. The function of a device is quite different to the function of a lunch box, pencil case or sweatshirt, and we believe children will recognise the need for greater self-responsibility and respect for their belongings.
Does this mean the school aren't buying any more devices?
Our BoT support the use of 1:1 devices in the Moa Team classrooms (Year 5 – 8). We continue to support this through the purchase and lease of iPads as well as a mix of laptops and netbooks for classroom use. We are grateful to the PTA for their on-going financial support of this programme. The simple reality is that (as much as we would like to!) we cannot afford to supply each child with a dedicated device for their personal use. We also believe that there are benefits for children in using a device at school that they also have access to at home. We believe BYOD allows students improved access to tools that may help them in some lessons. We will continue to provide access to computers and iPads for those students who do not have their own device.
How will you keep my child safe while using their device?
We use LineWize monitoring and filtering software on our school network. This allows us to filter which websites children have access to, and also to monitor the websites they are visiting. LineWize sends an alert (either in real time, or as a daily digest) if children attempt to access any blocked websites. From next year these alerts will be sent to teachers to monitor. Parents who allow their child to bring a device to school can also opt to receive email alerts or reports on their child’s website browsing.
We are also developing a school-wide Digital Citizenship programme, based on resources from CommonSense Media and NetSafe. CommonSense Media include a home-based component to their programmes, and we believe this will help parents as they support their child with the use of Digital Technologies at home. There will be more information on this programme at the beginning of 2016.
We are also developing a school-wide Digital Citizenship programme, based on resources from CommonSense Media and NetSafe. CommonSense Media include a home-based component to their programmes, and we believe this will help parents as they support their child with the use of Digital Technologies at home. There will be more information on this programme at the beginning of 2016.
Why aren't all Moa Team (or school) children able to bring a device to school?
We need to ensure that our network is resilient and robust enough to cope with the demands of BYOD. We also want to make sure that our filtering and monitoring software works as planned. While we have spent considerable time planning and making sure that we are ‘ready to go’ in theory, the reality may yet have a few surprises in store for us! We need to make sure that we are able to respond to these fully and in a timely manner before rolling out BYOD to the rest of the Moa Team. We are planning for the roll out to continue from Term 2 for Year 5/6 children.
At this stage we are not planning to invite children in the Pukeko, Kiwi or Piwakaka Teams to join the BYOD programme. This will be reviewed as part of our on-going review of programmes and planning.
At this stage we are not planning to invite children in the Pukeko, Kiwi or Piwakaka Teams to join the BYOD programme. This will be reviewed as part of our on-going review of programmes and planning.
What if my child's device is lost, damaged or stolen while at school?
West Melton School will not be liable for damaged, lost, or stolen equipment. All devices that are taken to school will be stored securely when not in use, and children will not be permitted to use devices belonging to other children. We are developing a BYOD agreement for all children and their parents to sign before bringing a device to school – this will support our school-wide Acceptable Use Policy, as well as contain an acknowledgement of the requirements of BYOD. This agreement will be distributed to parents and children at the beginning of 2016.
What other policies, procedures or frameworks do you have in place?
- We already have a school-wide Acceptable Use Policy. This is currently being reviewed, and we will require all children and their families to sign this at the beginning of 2016. This policy is separate to BYOD.
- We are developing a BYOD agreement for children and their parents, outlining our expectations around care and charging of individual devices, and required and recommended apps for school use.
- We have held several community evenings to discuss the use of Digital Technologies in learning communities, as well as the specific development of a BYOD policy.
- We are developing a school-wide Digital Citizenship programme, and will include a component for parents to discuss at home with their children. This programme will run separately to BYOD.