In the first year of BYOD at AHS the policy has faced a copious amount of glitches and obstacles that will have to be worked out if the policy is to continue into the future. A lot of AHS students are happy about the BYOD policy, because they can finally have one computer for their personal and their academic life. This fall, more schools than ever before are implementing a policy called Bring Your Own Device, or BYOD. This policy requires students to bring their own computer device to school and connect with the school’s Wi-Fi network.

However, many AHS parents and students, believe BYOD is unfair because we are a public school and public schools have a responsibility to provide students with all of the study materials they need. In a survey that some parents took about BYOD, 26 percent, or 65 parents, said that they were concerned about the cost of purchasing a new device. To add to the problem of cost, some students have a slower computer or no computer at all, which causes inequalities in a lot of classes.  In this way, BYOD goes directly against the philosophy of free and public education.

Those without a computer or with a slow computer may actually see their grades fall due to their inferior technology. Increasingly, more classes are forcing the students to use their own computers and some classes even take points off your participation grade if you don’t bring in your own computer. We are also seeing many more assignments that can only be done on computers.

One parent on the anonymous survey said, “We live in the mountains, not everywhere my kids go have reliable internet connections so I don’t approve of mandatory online homework.” Kids who can’t complete their homework at home or bring in a computer to school, will see their grades affected.

This causes a lot of debate between AHS teachers, students, parents and the administration. Parents, especially, believe the BYOD policy could lead to even more teasing and cyber bullying. In the survey 47 percent, or 118 parents, said that they were extremely or very concerned about their children using their devices for inappropriate activities. Those people who are doing inappropriate activities could potentially be on ask.fm bullying the person sitting right next to them.

Another problem that arises with the use of technology is that people with better computers could potentially make fun of other students who with inferior or cheap computers.  It sets up a situation where every classroom is divided into the haves and the have-nots.  Kim Martin, the principal of AHS, believes inequalities are part of school life and a difference in devises is just another example of that.

“Having a shiny Mac Book Pro versus a used computer that you’re getting from the school. Certainly, that’s one-way students distinguish between each other but I think we have many ways students do that – through clothing and the cars they drive. So, I don’t know if this problem is really that big of a problem.” Martin said.

The AHS community already has concerns about cyber bullying and if every student has their own computer in the classroom, parents and teachers worry that could aggravate the problem even more.  Also, the quality of education could be impacted by BYOD. In the survey 52 percent, or 130 parents, said that technology can improve learning SOME of the time. If each student has their own computer in class, the temptation to text, play games and check out Facebook will be huge.  Let’s face it: most of us would use our phone or computer for a lot of other things besides schoolwork.

In the survey a parent said, “ I don’t see how you can incorporate more device use, when the kids are already ‘playing,’ face booking, gaming, texting and snap chatting in class.”

However, Principal Martin believes teachers and parents need to help students develop self-discipline when it comes to their devices.

“I do think it’s somewhat our school’s responsibility to teach kids digital citizenship and responsibility and what better way to do it than in the classroom where you have to learn how to manage all the things that are pulling at you, pulling at your attention,” Martin said.

From the perspective of schools, there are many positives to the BYOD policy. Schools save a lot of money when students bring in their own device and every public school needs to find ways to cut their budget in this economy. In fact, budget cuts have left some schools without a choice; they cannot afford to provide computers for every student so they have to choose BYOD.  However, our school is well funded so we have the luxury of really thinking about the effects of BYOD and deciding whether it is healthy for both our students and our school.

Principal Martin believes the BYOD policy will soon be so common and universal no-one will even think twice about it.

“Five years from now, it will be second nature,” she said. “Kids will just automatically throw their device in their bag when they’re on their way to school.”