BYOD Gets Positive Reviews in LMSD

The Lower Moreland School District’s technology program, “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD), was the topic of discussion at the April 24 Technology committee meeting of the Lower Moreland School Board.

The district’s director of Technology, Sue Casagrand led the discussion, and provided the board with an update of the program.

“We have some excellent teachers moving forward with the pilot of Bring Your Own Device,” Casagrand told the board.

According to the Lower Moreland School District website, the pilot BOYD program started in April 2012, and has since caught on with teachers at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

Casangrand said that these groups of teachers have encouraged their students to register their devices for the program. An FAQ page on the district’s website explains through the BOYD program, students with personal technology devices (i.e., laptops, netbooks, tablets and smart phones), can access their school’s wireless network to enhance the classroom experience under the guidance of their teachers.  

Casagrand reported that nearly a quarter of the district’s student population have registered their personal devices through the BYOD program:

• Pine Road Elementary – 131

• Murray Ave. Middle  – 161

• Lower Moreland High School – 207

“I think the numbers are just fantastic,” Casagrand said.

Through the BYOD program, students can take notes or access further online research. Also, teachers have been adapting their lessons to incorporate their students devices. Casagrand said that some teachers have a BYOD day, while others supplement the use of district technology resources with students able to participate in the BYOD program.

Casagrand also showed a district-produced video, featuring interviews with participating teachers and students.

Chris Hamburg, Pine Road Elementary third grade teacher, was among those interviewed. He said he liked how the BYOD program exposes his students to different educational apps that are not available on desktop computers.

“Another advantage would be a dramatic enthusiastic increase for their interest in learning,” Hamburg, who teaches math, science and social studies said. “It also teaches kids 21^st-century skills they’ll need to know for the future.”

Teachers interviewed in the video also described the challenges of the BYOD program, noting that uniformity in lessons may be difficult for a classroom using a mixture of Droids or Apple products. Other challenges include teachers noting jealousy of peers with personal devices, when they have not.

A teacher at the high school pointed out that there needs to be an increase of WiFi before the BYOD program is fully implemented.

Casagrand told the board that she expects the program to be fully implemented by September, and that teachers will undergo professional development on how to use the BYOD program during the summer.

Addressing the issue of students not having their own devices, Casagrand said that the district is working with the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit to get reduced prices for parents on purchasing such devices.

During the Computer Replacement point on the agenda, Casagrand referred back to the BYOD program as a major consideration on upgrading or purchasing the district’s computers. If the BYOD program is highly successful, Casagrand said that the district would only have to replace desktop computers and not its laptops.

“It will minimize replacement costs substantially,” she said, adding that the feasibility for that plan may be better presented after next school year’s full implementation.

In addition to the BYOD program, Casagrand said that the school district could also rely on digital cloud storage for information kept on the desktop computers, making such computers last much longer as “shells” and providing easier accessibility to BYOD students.

“It’s a terrific plan and a good strategy,” Robert Howard, school board member, said. “I think it’s the wave of the future and I think it’s critical that students will bring their own devices.”

For more information, visit www.lmtsd.org/byod