A BYOD Journey Begins

In less than two weeks the new school year starts and my district has a "new" program in place: BYOD (or BYOT, Bring Your Own Device/Technology).

It's not really new; we've never actually disallowed students from bringing laptops or other devices to use in class and our current policies support the use as long as it is "authorized by a certified employee."  What's more, it seems kids don't really need that authorization.  They do it anyway; either teachers are okay with it or kids are hiding it from adult eyes.

The paramount question to ask is, "How are our students using their own technology?"  I believe that we aren't doing what we should, as educators and parents and as a society, to help children understand how the technology they are using can be much more than a tool for frivolous (and sometimes inappropriate) social connections or for entertainment. 

Technology is also a tool for learning.  When combined with the concept of BYOD, technology affords personalized learning: said one way, give a child a task/goal and let them use the tools they know to accomplish it.

The journey doesn't really begin this school year.  I'm not even sure when it really started.  For years, we investigated the options for 1-1 at the high and perhaps middle levels.  However, the push for BYOD evolved from questions from folks about the lack of textbook funds.  (Textbooks... I'm not going there tonight.)

After a Board meeting, with support from all for the initiative, our little county got some news, as the Henry County Local reports.

I've had questions from state-level folks and other districts, and I'll oblige when I can, but, heck school is starting in less than two weeks!!!

How I spent my Summer break

In a little over 3 weeks, the new school year starts.  I love this time of year because, at least for me, I feel a sense of excitement and purpose among all of my colleagues.  It's a time of a rejuvenation and creativity in action; all educators (teachers, principals, district administrators) have the time to learn new things and devise better ways for accomplishing our goals.

This is the time that we have to attend local, state, national, or international conferences.  This is the time that we have to contemplate our approach last year and make revisions for the upcoming year.

Since I (like principals and other administrators) have an extended contract, I have had very few days off during the summer.  And, like teachers, I've volunteered days in the work that we all do. 

This is how I've spent my Summer break:

1. Conducting some good ole fashioned tech trainings on new tools.
2. Coordinating (and attending to) the technical needs of local workshops hosted in our district.
3. Collaborating with several folks on local and state initiatives that are imperative for the upcoming year.
4. Clerical, paperwork types of things (placing orders, filing eRate forms)
5. Creating new staff accounts in most all of our systems and shortly new student accounts.
6. Coping with changes: adding new staff, removing exiting staff, making name changes, attending to room switching, and dealing with new labs in places not designed for them.
7. Connecting with people -- face-to-face and via the web.

Summer, for educators, is almost over.  How have you spent yours?