BYOD-Bring your own Distraction?

 

    What is BYOD, anyway? BYOD is an acronym that stands for "Bring Your Own Device", and in a similar vein, BYOT, is "Bring Your Own Technology". Both concepts involve users bringing and using their own personal technological devices, like cell phones, laptops, and tablets, in a class or library setting. Usage has skyrocketed in post Covid years, mainly due to the necessity of children continuing their formal education (for years!) through a device, instead of in person.

    Devices that were once considered a distraction to learning, are now assisting users in amazing new ways. In an article by Victor Rivero, where he discusses advancements in BYOD with teachers and librarians, interviewees reported that students are "shifting how they use devices from entertainment to class and time management, assignment creation and delivery, and collaborating with other students. They’re now using them to create rich multimedia products — an iMovie trailer instead of a poster, a Google Presentation instead of a book report.” 

    School and public libraries are also bridging the gap for users with no devices of their own to bring! Programs are available in both settings to provide users with a device, so that everyone can take advantage of technology on an equal footing. For example, in Ramona, California, Chromebooks were assigned to each high school student, and they bring them to supplement class learning each day. The San Diego Public Library also supplied thousands of laptops and wifi hotspot devices to aid their patrons in getting connected. As this trend grows, librarians can position themselves to provide the best user experience by staying up to date with new technology, and familiarizing themselves with the functionality of as many devices as they can.

    To continue learning about this trend, take a look at the resources below:

https://www.bookwidgets.com/blog/2016/11/what-is-byod-14-pros-and-cons

https://resilienteducator.com/classroom-resources/what-is-byod-bring-your-own-device-and-why-should-teachers-care/

Works Cited

Rivero, Victor. “The Bring-Your-Own Dilemma.” Internet@Schools, vol. 22, no. 2, Mar. 2015, pp. 7–9. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=111882940&site=ehost-live&scope=site.