5 Possible Device

Selection Models

Bring Your Own 'x' (BYOx) is a term used to describe a digital device ownership model where students and/or staff use their privately owned devices to access the departmental network and information systems in an educational setting.

The 'x' in BYOx represents more than a privately owned device, it also includes software, applications, connectivity or carriage service and appropriate behaviours.

Model 1 One specific school-selected device.

Device ConstraintsAll devices have the same operating system and software

PositivesAll devices have the same capabilities which may aid:• Planning for lessons/curriculum/pedagogy• Technical support• Access to the network• Virus protection• Network management • Licensing – compliance and upgrades

Potential Issues• Affordability/Equity – what about families who can’t afford the device?• Enforcement – what happens to/for those who do not have the device?• Limits to choice and innovation• On what basis is the decision made? (learning vs. cost?)• Should BYOx device decisions be made by school or families?

Model 2One specific school-selected device, plus students can bring an additional device of their choice.

Device ConstraintsSchool selected devices have the same operating system and software No minimum specifications exist for the supplementary device

PositivesAs Model 1 plus…• More choice for the parent/student• Flexibility of use to match individual student requirements

Potential Issues• As for Model 1 plus…• Potentially doubles the number of devices on the network, bandwidth issues?• Unfiltered internet access on 3G/4G• Additional devices may be a distraction if not embedded in curriculum delivery and teacher PD• Security issues• Liability/insurance issues• Equity – what about those students who don’t have an additional device?• Acceptable Use Policy or other policies may need updating

Model 3School-selected range of approved devices.

Device ConstraintsMinimum size, software and capability specifications must be met

Positives• Allows additional choice• Some students may already have a suitable device• Potentially allows students to work on a platform with which they are familiar• Software licensing workload may be reduced

Potential Issues• Equity, affordability and enforcement issues, what happens to students who don’t have/can’t afford any proposed device?• Network management may be more complex• Do teachers and technicians need to be familiar with all selected platforms?• Lesson planning/pedagogy needs to cater for a range of platforms, software, apps• Not all software types are available on all platforms• Need to manage multiple vendors• Acceptable Use Policy and other policies may need updating

Model 4 Any device that meets school determined minimum specifications.

Device ConstraintsMinimum size, software, app and capability specifications must be met

Positives• Allows additional choice• Some students may already have a suitable device• Potentially allows students to work on a platform with which they are familiar

Potential Issues• Not all devices will have the same capabilities – do lessons have to be planned around the lowest capability machine?• How is work assessed – does it take into account ICT capabilities?• Equity, affordability and enforcement issues, what happens to students who don’t have/can’t afford any proposed device?• Network management may be more complex• Do teachers and technicians need to be familiar with all platforms?• Licensing becomes a greater issue• Security issues increase (virus protection, inappropriate access, electrical safety, physical safety, insurance, liability etc.)• Need to manage multiple vendors• Acceptable Use Policy and other policies may need updating

Model 5Students bring any device which can connect to the internet, suits their learning style and meets their specific curriculum needs.

Device ConstraintsMinimum software, app and capability specifications must be met

Positives• Greatly increased choice• More students are likely to already have a device• Students work on a device they are familiar with that may match their preferred learning style• Less technical support may be needed

Potential Issues• Greater range of devices may cause lesson planning and technical support issues• Some devices brought in may not suit planned lessons• Pedagogical complexities increase with the increased range of devices• Equity issues increase as the range of devices increases – how can this be addressed?• Do teachers and technicians need to be familiar with all platforms?• Licensing becomes a greater issue• Security issues increase (virus protection, inappropriate access, electrical safety, physical safety, insurance, liability etc.)• Need to manage multiple vendors• Acceptable Use Policy and other policies may need updating

References

• Blog posts and articles by Mal Lee November 2012• http://byot.me/• Microsoft Bring Your Own Device in Schools whitepaper – BYOD to school education briefing paper by

Dixon & Tierney, 16th October, 2012• http://blogs.msdn.com/b/education/archive/2012/08/15/microsoft-bring-your-own-device-in-schools-whi

tepaper.aspx• BYOD: Embracing Technology in K-12 Schools’ by Jennifer Sicking, 12th November 2012• http://www.indstate.edu/news/news.php?newsid=3344• ‘The 10 Commandments of BYOD’ MaaS360 by Fiberlink, 29th August 2012• http://content.maas360.com/www/content/wp/wp_maas360_mdm_tenCommandments.pdf• BYOD implementation will help students become more independent learners.• Blog posts (various) 2012• http://byotnetwork.com/about-byot/• ‘BYOD Teachers talk classroom use’ by Susan Bearden, 7th March 2012• Overseas models:• Alberta educationhttp://education.alberta.ca/