BYOD Done Right – PD Framework & Model Ideas

In working with a district leadership team today, who is getting ready to open up to a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD, BYOT, etc.) experience for students, the conversation about PD (Professional Development) came up.  That’s the burning questions most have been asking.  If it is truly implementation of something to empower more personal (digital) learning experiences then we have to teach and learn good practices.  I’ll also add that if “the technology” is truly going to add to the support system that pushes higher quality & deeper learning experiences, then people (staff and students) need to learn how and when to use it.

Take a ladder, for example.  If it is going to help and support me change a light bulb… I have to know that I need it to reach new heights, I have to know how to set it up – securely, how to climb it, and how to put it away.

We’ve said before that 1:1 is just a ratio… it is NOT an instructional program.  It is an opportunity to achieve greater ACCESS.  Possibly, if a BYOD helps create the access model – then shouldn’t we also invest in the learning WHEN, and HOW to bring positive personal experiences (aka: the reason everybody has a device in their personal life) to the engaged learning experience (notice I didn’t say “to the classroom”).

The Point… Thanks Amanda for taking the lead on these thoughts.  I’m hoping to work collaboratively to help develop some real models or at least a framework for others to think and discuss.

BYOD Professional Learning Framework (4 main categories + some example tools):

• Collaboration – Skydrive + Office Web Apps, Google Docs (in browser co-authoring)
• Communication – Email, Blogs
• Assessments – Self created Google Forms, Socrative,
• Backchannel(ing) & Feedback Loops – Poll Everywhere, Twitter, Today’s Meet

…Also trying to figure out a way to sprinkle in a little bit of :

• Critical Thinking and
• Creativity (to round out the 4 C’s)
• Classroom Management Techniques
• Digital Citizenship

The professional learning (PD) experiences would be integrated with classroom teachers (content specialists) as real classroom content scenarios (NOT as pull out – here’s how you click the button to use the tool).

THE Really Big Deal:

The really big deal is that the plan for this particular district is to plan PD opportunities for teachers BUT ALSO to develop a student Professional (or Personal) Learning Plan following the same framework for the first 2 weeks of school.  Not only will every teacher learn and be exposed to the concepts and experiences, students will too!  Novel!