[CASL-L] students' personal e-readers

[Michelle Luhtala]

We have BYOD. Students are not (yet) *required *to bring their own. We are
still exploring 1:1 as a long term option. Many stakeholders feel pretty
strongly about one v. the other.

Ultimately, we want more computing power, but the philosophical question is
whether we want every kid to have 24/7 access to digital technology for
consumption purposes, or for creation purposes (this is more expensive, but
it is also better aligned with our ICT program). The answer to that
question will determine how we procede - 1:1 tablet or laptop, BYOD, or
whatever unknown the near future will deliver. The exploration is fun,
though. You get to ask big questions and involve students in the
conversation ;-).

In the meantime, we encourage students to use what they have. For example,
yesterday, I encouraged three classes download the Destiny Quest app
(online catalog) in class. They were embarking on a new research project.
About 1/3 to 1/2 the class were able to download it and use it instead of
COW laptops (many of which were not charged by the time we got them).
Instant start up is VERY compelling in a 48 minute period class, and once
kids sign in  for the first time, they don't have to do it again. Not only
that, but they were able to renew outstanding loans on their devices the
day before their report cards were due (we withhold report cards for
students with outstanding obligations)!

Even the classroom teacher (who, in the past, has balked at my suggestion
to have kids use their MP3 players and phones in class) thought this was a
productive move.

We recently surveyed our kids and learned that 41% of those who bring
connected, app-ready devices to school have NOT downloaded an eReader
(iBook, Kindle, Nook, Google Books, Kobo, Biblio, Overdrive, etc..)! Kids
need training on how to use their devices for productivity. Halo, they've
got. But Macbeth? No way (even though it is probably on every high school's
required reading list and it is  FREE)!

We do have students "register" their devices. Instructions and the form are
linked to our library website <http://nchslibrary.info> under Tech support.
They can do it from anywhere, any time they wish to. Requests are "pushed"
on Tuesdays, and Thursdays (and sometimes more frequently, like right after
the holidays).

Our AUP/RUA: http://bit.ly/NCPSAUP If you look very carefully at the end of
the first paragraph, you will see a vague reference to devices. That's all
it takes! We've been doing this since kids started bringing their devices
to school. My "brand new" iPod was stolen in 2006. I am sure that happens
on occasion, but not to the extent where it is seriously impacting
administrative duties. I think TI-84 calculators still hold the lead in
that realm. Our kids never take their hands off their devices. They are
pretty hard to swipe!

The ideal tools for learning (consumption AND creation), in my opinion:
school-provided MacBook AND student owned app-ready/WIFI connected device.
Hey, that's just in fantasy land, but here's to dreaming! I know of one
public school (not in CT) that has that, and they are considering adding
1:1 iPads next year! Wow!

Happy pondering!
:-)ML



On Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 2:55 PM, Shannon McNeice
<shannon_mcneice at whps.org>wrote:

> Are your students allowed to bring their own personal e-readers to school?
>
> My district is concerned with liability issues: theft, damage, and does
> not want to allow it.
>
> Does your school/district have a policy?
>
> I am arguing that if we require them to read during they day, and they
> purchased a book for their e-reader, they should be allowed to bring it.
>
> Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Shannon
>
> --
> Shannon McNeice
> Library Media Specialist
> Sedgwick Middle School
> West Hartford, CT 06107
> shannon_mcneice at whps.org
>
> "You gotta ignite the light!" KP
>
>
>
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