Many Trinity students rejoiced when they heard they would be allowed to bring laptops and tablets into classrooms beginning this school year. Launching the Bring Your Own Device program involved some hesitation by school administrators, who knew full well the distractions such devices might bring — games, web pages and chatting applications could be accessed right from the classroom.
But they decided the potential benefits outweighed the possible negatives, and that for future success, it was important for students to learn how to tune out and turn off distractions. Many students bought tablets specifically for school.
Freshman Lucas Harten is one who did. He said, “During classes, I usually take notes. You can sync it with your other devices,” which he said can be used for studying later on.
“There was hesitation to launch the BYOD program,” Trinity Principal Dan Zoeller said. “The school’s Standards and Policies Committee spent a year and a half reviewing whether the policy should go in place.”
Once the committee decided to go forward, Trinity’s Director of Finance and Administration Rob Saxton, Network Administrator Steven Todd, and other members of the IT staff worked to cover the school with Wi-Fi over the summer, so students could access the Internet from classrooms and other areas of the school.
“It was a big job getting the network set up over the summer. We were able to use our existing wiring and an access point in each classroom,” Todd said. “The biggest job now is getting devices registered. The network runs itself for the most part and requires little maintenance.”
The productivity technology can bring is the focus of the program as well as teaching students to use their devices properly.
“It can be a distraction, but students need to learn social skills. Trinity is preparing them for college, where they’ll find the same rules with technology,” Zoeller said. “We think a laptop or iPad is like a calculator; it’s a tool that can be useful in some instances–some not.”
Even with block scheduling in place and a strict policy on no games or other distracting apps, teachers say that’s not always the case in their classrooms.
English teacher Mr. Greg Sysol said some “students are being distracted by their devices.”
Like many colleges and universities, teachers are given the choice whether they allow technology in their classrooms.
“I allow them to take notes,” theology teacher Mr. Chris Luken said. He added that when he sees students playing games, “they receive a written punishment. The students that use the technology for notes, it does benefit them.”
Junior Drew Chandler sees value in using a device.“I find it a lot more productive,” he said. “I’m a lot more organized and information is easier to access. I don’t see it being a distraction; teachers keep up with it pretty well.”
Many other students agreed with this sentiment. “I can look up problems on the Internet if I’m having trouble. Apps are also good for getting work done, like notes and the calculator,” junior C.J. Ott said.
Ott was quick to admit that he sometimes does get distracted, though. Mr. Stuart Miles, the founder of Pocket-lint.com, a website devoted to covering the latest on consumer technology, theorizes that teachers may contribute to students distracting themselves.
“Technology should be used like a pencil or calculator — empower the learning rather than using it as a diversion. It comes down to the teacher,” Miles said. “The teachers need to do their job to create compelling lessons to be interesting to students. Just like business, if the person is saying interesting things, you’ll want to learn about what they’re saying. You won’t have the inclination to just go on Facebook.”
According to Zoeller, Trinity didn’t want to raise tuition or impose fees by having all students buy the same devices. The Bring Your Own Device program is favored in colleges, which is another reason why Trinity chose to go that route. Even with some problems, Zoeller said the BYOD program has been “mostly beneficial. Students are able to get started at home, access RockSpace easier than before, use technology programs they’re familiar with, use a calendar to be more organized, and perform quick research in the classroom.”
Zoeller said the committee will look at new rules as the BYOD program continues. When asked for the last word, he said, “Some final thoughts. As with all new programs or policy changes, Trinity monitors and adjusts as necessary. Teachers and students know that any learning tool can be misused. Games can be programmed into calculators. Pencils and pens can be used to doodle, pass notes or play Hangman. I told parents, students and teachers at the beginning of the school year that the greatest lesson about technology students can learn is when to turn it on and off. I still believe that.
“The rules at Trinity for misuse of technology are clear. A student will receive a warning then will receive discipline consequences which may include jugs or a loss of privileges. As we always do with school policies, we may consider adjustments to these rules at the end of the year. Finally, the Standards and Policies Committee, made up of teachers and department chairs from all academic departments, endorsed a BYOD program because it avoids automatic and substantial increases in tuition and increases student and parent choice.
“Other area schools that have the same devices, 1 to 1 programs, all have increased tuition or charged technology fees on top of tuition — and these schools still report many of the same issues we have. Mr. Wangler in our IT Department tells me that nearly every eighth-grade shadow student he’s talked to this year approves, saying they already own devices. So we are strongly encouraged with the new BYOD program. Technology changes in the blink of an eye. Next year’s hire of a new Director of Classroom Technology will only strengthen teacher comfort and student productivity.”