STARTING THE YEAR: SETTING UP FOR YOUR BYOD CLASSROOM

After packing away the Christmas tree and finishing feasting on the delights of Christmas and New Year gatherings, teachers across the country will begin preparing for the classes they teach in 2022.

Many of these classes will be first time BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) classes, and students, parents, and teachers alike will be excited and a little apprehensive at the same time.

Here are my five best tips for starting the year off for teachers and families. (Please note these suggestions are related to classroom management, not pedagogy)

For Teachers

1. Make a plan for storing the devices - will the devices be stored in student tidy trays or on shelves? Make sure that devices are easily accessible and time won't be wasted accessing devices when needed. If devices are in tidy trays or on desks, ensure that you have usage guidelines in place.

2. Decide how and when devices will be charged - refer to school policy and make students and parents aware of the policy

3. Set up classroom device rules/guidelines - Put on Edward DeBono's Black Hat - think about risks, difficulties, problems that may occur and have a policy in place to cover this right at the beginning of the year. For example:

BE SAFE

Ensure your iPad is safely stored and handled at all times

Keep your login details private

Access and view only materials which have approval from your teacher

BE KIND

Always ask permission before taking and using videos or photos

Be courteous and polite in any online communication.

BE RESPONSIBLE

Report any unacceptable online behaviour to a teacher

iPads are only to be used in class time, as directed by your teacher

Bring your iPad to school with at least an 80% charge each day.

BE RESPECTFUL

Use and handle only your own iPad unless directed otherwise by a teacher

Use only approved online sites and educational games

Be mindful of your online footprint

4. Develop strategies for students who require assistance with technology - It can become quite overwhelming when 1/2 class of students miss an instruction or don't know which App is being used. A chorus of "I need help", "what comes next?", "it's not working", "I don't have that button" can derail even the best lesson plan. Come up with a list of strategies to manage this: for example, determine class experts and make the class aware of this group, set up the 3 before me system, where students ask 3 peers for help before the teacher, strategically buddy up students so that they can help each other, create a Keynote with step by step instructions for students to follow, this allows you time to support students who need guidance. You will have many other strategies. Just make sure that you have added these to your lesson plan.

5. Make sure you use the device on the first day - Your parents or the school community have invested considerable funds in the BYOD program. Make sure that students have something created on their devices to share with parents. A few ideas are annotated photographs of work, recordings of student reflections, reading responses, and artwork.

For Families

1. Set up guidelines regarding screen time at home - be clear about this with your child. Instead of setting time limits, assign activity limits, i.e. homework, creative time, communication time and playtime. Work with your child to determine what these or other activities involve.

2. Charge devices overnight - adult bedrooms are best so that students are not tempted to access and use devices during the night.

3. Follow school guidelines regarding the preparation of devices - depending on school and department systems, some safety programs may interfere with student use of the device at school.

4. Ensure all Apps are downloaded, and plenty of storage space is available for student work.

5. Be a good digital citizenship model - students copy the behaviours they see around them. Think about your digital use and what example you are setting for your child. Are you looking at your child or your phone when they speak to you? Are you checking texts and emails at the dinner table? Are you putting your device away and taking time to do other activities you enjoy?