Preparing for BYOD

Getting Started

BYOD is here! How do you as a teacher prepare yourself and your classroom for this new possibility? Are you willing to tailor the education to your 21st Century students?

Following these 10 tips will help you have a successful transition into a BYOD environment.

1. Start with your policy. Keep it simple and easy to understand such as “Students can use electronic devices at the discretion of the teacher”
2. Create management pieces. 
3. Communicate your readiness.
1. Set your expectation with BYOD just like you do with other policies.
2. Make sure to communicate to parents. You want them to feel comfortable with their children using the technology at school.
4. Charging policy?
1. If it is safe and possible, you can use a power strip in the room.
2. You could set up desks next to power outlets to provide seating while charging.
3. You can have a charging area in the room where students can charge their devices but not sit next to them.
5. Design trial activities. Make sure to have a paper and an electronic version. This will help you see who all brings a device and is willing to use it.
6. BYOD in content areas! Find other people in your content area that are using BYOD in their classrooms. 
7. Make the professional connection for your students. People in professional settings consume and produce with technology. Your students should being doing this as well.
8. Design a trial group project (one or two devices in a group).
9. Have students bring ideas back to you! 
10. Take a deep breath and be ready for anything.