BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) is a movement that’s been gaining momentum in office workspaces for a number of years now. But schools have been slow to adopt it so far, possibly because school administrators don’t have a clear idea of what BYOD can do for them.
In a nutshell, BYOD takes the precepts of telecommuting (working at home on your own device) and applies them to the office space. You bring your own device; the company -or school- saves thousands on IT expenses.
Oh, and you get to break your previous record on Candy Crush while setting next year’s KPI targets.
Addictive mobile entertainment options and attractive cost-savings aside, if you’re a school administrator you probably are still stuck with the problem of building a superior learning environment on campus for your students and teachers.
Believe it or not, adopting BYOD could be just what your students and faculty need to take learning to a whole new level. Here are 5 reasons why school administrators should give BYOD a shot.
#1. Your students love their own smartphones, tablets, and computers
Here’s a simple exercise you can do on your own during your next lunch break.
Step 1: Walk over to the nearest classroom’s shared computer. Look at its working condition (if it’s still working that is).
Step 2: Walk amongst your students (ignore the sniggers behind you – you were just like them 20 years ago). Look at how the kids are using their smartphones. More importantly, observe how close they are to their personal devices, and how well they maintain them.
The fact is, everyone knows students take to technology like a duck to water. But when they own the same technology, they enjoy using it more. Yes, even when it’s using their devices for learning (if you want our take on this, read our guides on how to master your semester with apps, and how to take better notes in class).
Takeaway: If your students already use their phones, tablets, and laptops so much, it’s time to ditch the classroom computer. You’ll save on IT maintenance fees, remove one more barrier to personal learning, and have more engaged learners.
More engaged learners = better grades = teachers, students, parents, and school governors flocking to your office in fits of boundless gratitude.
Did we mention better funding?
#2. Learning and creativity should not be restricted to the classroom
Ever wondered why companies organize so many corporate retreats out of the office for brainstorming? Or why do so many of your best ideas come to you in a flash of genius when you’re away from work? It’s because just stepping outside your usual environment for even a short period, forces you to think differently and look at problems from another angle.
When students bring their own iPad or computer to lessons, they can easily work on assignments in class, take work with them wherever they want to get inspired and creative – be it the canteen, library, or nearest Starbucks – and pick up where they left off. Everything’s updated and trackable, so your teachers can monitor students’ progress and homework more efficiently. It’s even easier now that several note-taking and document apps allow you to store and share your documents on the cloud safely.
Finally, an end to the hitherto timeless excuse: “I forgot to bring my homework.”
#3. Teach digital citizenship
Using personal devices for learning is one of the best ways to teach today’s students how to use technology safely, effectively, ethically, and respectfully. In a world where fake news is increasingly a problem, adopting BYOD can effectively be used to teach students how to responsibly gather, evaluate, construct, and share knowledge.
And as families, governments, and societies increasingly look to schools to prepare their children for a digital future, teaching digital citizenship through a BYOD initiative could be the achievement that sets your school apart from the rest.
#4. It’s easier to get opt-in from your teachers with BYOD
Like your students, most of your teachers already are familiar with smartphone technology, so getting them on board your BYOD initiative should take less convincing. Where you might get some pushback is on the issue of getting up to scratch with some of the education apps and services out there.
Thankfully, Kdan Mobile’s Creativity 365 Education comes with customized training programs to get all your students, teachers, and faculty onboard in no time. We’ll walk you through our apps and show how you can best benefit from them.
#5. Surprisingly Simple Volume Licensing with Kdan
While there are several creativity and content creation apps available to educational institutions, not all are easy to assign licenses for hundreds of students’ and teachers’ devices. With Kdan Mobile’s Simplified Volume Licensing scheme, you get an Admin Center that allows you to assign licenses to faculty, staff, and students efficiently and manage accounts quickly, in real-time. The management process is significantly simplified, making it an excellent choice for implementing educational software development services.
Registration is fast and easy with school email accounts.
If you’re looking for a way to build a superior learning environment in your school that’s simple to set up, cost-effective, and scalable, we think you’ll like our Creativity 365 Education package. It’s packed with the best of Kdan Mobile’s creativity and content creation apps and is now available at a special 50% volume purchase discount for all eligible educational institutions.
👉Click Here to build a superior learning environment now
Make those school governors swoon in eternal gratitude.