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Bring Your Own Device Program
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Bring Your Own Device Program
The following information is designed to help parents and students better navigate the implementation of the BYOD program at the school. Please, call or email with questions.
•• Terms to get Started ••
1. The cloud, or cloud-based: Saving, storing, and accessing files, programs, and apps out on the internet (and not necessarily on a local device hard drive).
The best example is the web site, app, and service called dropbox (dropbox.com). They provide free accounts that give users 2.0 GB of storage. You can save just about anything (except copyrighted movies and music) to that account, and then log in from anywhere using just about any internet-able device to view and even edit those files. “The cloud” then is referring to the millions and millions of servers around the world that form the internet, holding all the web sites and files we access when we get on the Internet.
• Other sites/services include: box.com skydrive.com
We are working to get students to use the cloud as the place for storing, editing, and sharing their files. That way, there are many fewer lost files, all of the student's files are in one place and can be accessed through many different devices and methods. The files can be shared easily in this manner. Finally, flash drives (with their inherent flaws – lost, broken, or error ridden) can be used sparingly.
2. Device: The hardware item, or physical device, that does the computing. So, in our case, it is the iPad, the tablet, the laptop, the notebook computer, Macbook, or Windows Surface tablet computer.
3. Applications or apps: Programs that perform a specific task. These can be the apps that we download to our smartphones or the word processing programs we use to type a letter.
4. pdf, or portable document format: The Adobe software company created this file type many years ago as a way to help the sharing and accessing of files across platforms (or types of computers). Essential, when a computer creates a pdf, it is creating a flat picture of the files (such as this document). It makes it such that the files can’t be edited and are more secure. The files is much smaller, thus more portable, and it can be viewed by just about any device. Almost every computer today can view pdf’s, and certainly all web browsers can view them.
5. Wi-fi vs. cellular data plan: As we stated in the registration packet, we do not advise nor ask families to bring devices on campus with a data plan through a cell phone company. When on campus, we will ask students to make sure they are using the wi-fi signal. There are a variety of reasons. The wi-fi signal is faster and more reliable and runs through our internet filters. Wi-fi based devices are cheaper. If a family already has a device with a data plan, and wants to use it as the devoted device, that will be allowable, as long as the cellular connection is turned off during the school day.
•• What should the devices be able to do? ••
a. Web browsing: In this, the device would be used to view and take notes from particular web sites, to research a topic, to find and read journal or newspaper articles, all as directed by the teacher.
b. Basic word processing: Teachers ask students to write, type, edit, and print short, medium, and long essays and papers nearly every day. A simple text editor app would not be sufficient for this; it would need to be something that allows for a level of formatting that a word processing application has (spacing, fonts, colors, insertion of graphics and charts, footnotes). We will be setting up the network to have a printing functionality, but that will take some time to facilitate. In the end, if a document is saved to “the cloud,” a student could access that file through one of our computers on campus to print.
c. View & notate pdf documents: This is the key area that tablets have an advantage to notebooks – in their ability to be read like a piece of paper and “digitally written on” using a stylus. A notebook computer, a Macbook, or a laptop would have easy ability to access and read a pdf, but less functionality in notating it digitally. The notation function is not an absolute necessity (and in fact may not be the best way to take notes for all students).
d. Create spreadsheets: Again, similar to word processing, students need to be able to create and edit spreadsheets and charts. Ideally, these can then be inserted into word documents (such as lab reports). Many word processing applications actually include this functionality (to create charts and graphs while in the word processing app).
e. Create presentation documents: Many of these programs actually sit on web sites on-line for free. Prezi.com is one of the more popular ones. A common assignment in class is to create a “powerpoint” presentation. That kind of document can be created on applications like Microsoft’s Powerpoint, Apple’s Pages, or many other applications.
f. Access and sync with a cloud-based document storage drive: This is a function of being able to access the internet. All students will be asked to have and use a cloud-based storage system, and develop an ability to use it well. As long as you can access the internet with the device, this function is met.
g. Calendar and task apps: Almost every digital device has this as a native, or included function. We will still issue a school-created planner as in the past. (In fact this year, the planner will be locally created and printed, and will include the school’s calendar and the handbook.)
•• What technical specifications should the device have? ••- Screen size: A 10- to 12-inch screen is close to the right size, even some 14-inch screens are fine (though some 14-inch laptops are too large and heavy to port around daily. 7-inch screens are too small.
- Full sized keyboard: This is essential. No one can type efficiently on touch screen keyboards, so for tablets like the iPad, it is necessary to get a separate keyboard (that links through Bluetooth or a wire). These vary in price, but are available for any tablet device.
- Processor speed: This is vastly important. The faster the processor, the easier and more reliably the device will work (and the longer its functional life). The things to look for are the GHz (gigahertz) speed. The iPad2 (1 GHz), iPad 4 (1.4 GHz), Nexus 10 (1.7 GHz), Windows Surface tablet (1.7 GHz) are all ideal in this area. Under 1 GHz, you will notice it. The faster processor speed will also give the device a longer functional life. As new apps and operating systems come out, the greater the demand on the processor.
- Touch screen: Again, this is not required, but makes the device more useful in certain situations.
- Portable, durable: It is important to note that the school will not be responsible for damages. Most new devices can easily include protection plans, and this is advisable. These can even be purchased on the internet. Even more, though, a good case, a good backpack, and general caution are the best steps.
•• What devices are acceptable and not acceptable? ••
Ideal devices- iPad (any in the series) with a keyboard case
- Ultrabook laptops that run Windows (ultrabooks weigh 3-4 lbs); examples would include the Lenovo ThinkPad x131e, Acer Aspire, or the Asus Vivobook
- Google Nexus 10 with a keyboard case
- MacBook
- Android tablets with 10-inch screens (pay attention to processor speed!) and a keyboard case
- Windows Surface – Microsoft’s new tablet computer
Good devices- Net books like Google’s Samsung Chromebook (again pay attention to processor speed). There are at least three other Chromebook versions. Note that on a Chromebook, the operating system is called Chrome, a Google version of Android for a computer.
- Netbooks are a separate category, that usually run on a separate kind of operating system (i.e. not Windows).
Inadequate devices- iPad mini
- Google Nexus 7
- Kindle Fire
•• Are smartphones acceptable to this end? ••
No. As a school, we will be re-crafting our phone policy, but only slightly. In most all cases, we will maintain the current status, which is that they are to be stowed away and powered off during school hours. We recognize that smartphones have real computing power and have valid uses, and so from time to time, smartphones might be allowed to be used in computing situations. However, there would seem to be little need for these devices in the midst of this new program.
•• Final Words ••
• Acceptable use of technology and the internet: a policy in the school’s handbook: We are currently rewriting our acceptable use policy to reflect this change in network design. It will be of a paramount significance that students understand this and devote their time and efforts to following this.
• School steps: We have met with our Apple network specialist and have planned through the reworking of our network. It will still include a general log-in for students, but students will no longer store their files on our server. They will store them on their own cloud-based applications.
We are also increasing the speed of our data connection into the school. There are limits to how much that can be increased and so it will take time for us to adapt our internal protocols to maximize what we have. The best example will be that we will ask students to work to understand the settings on their devices.
Most devices today are normally set as a default to recognize and connect to a wi-fi signal once it finds itself in range – even if the device is not being used. The problem is that the stored device steals a portion of the bandwidth (or internet signal) for no good use. It is among these things that we will have to work through in the first weeks and months of school.
Teacher training will be a focus as well. Teachers will be working to understand how to integrate these technologies into class and how they can be used to make learning deeper and more efficient and effective.
In the end, we are very excited about the creation and development of this new technology plan. It will be more sustainable and flexible, and will allow our school to use technology in a responsible and innovative way. Again, please contact the school as questions arise in considering how this request will best be observed by your family.