The real power of interactive technologies is that they let us learn in ways that aren’t otherwise possible or practical.
David Lassner
As more schools start to provide their students with 1:1 devices, the responsibility of keeping all students on an equal ground remains. I believe that students should be able to bring home their 1:1 devices, with certain requirements. There is no doubt that having 1:1 devices in the classroom is an amazing tool. But, when students leave the building they may lose access to all of the assignments, textbooks, and apps they have been using all day long. I recognize that allowing the students to take their devices home with them requires a lot of trust in many different regards. However, allowing students to have access to their device at home is far more beneficial than any potential issues.
One of the biggest concerns about allowing students to take devices home is the possibility of them breaking or misplacing it. It can be expensive to provide 1:1 devices for an entire student population, and having to constantly repair or replace broken devices is not ideal. While in the building, it is easier for the staff to watch how the students are treating their devices and try to prevent any major damages. Once the device leaves the school, it is up to the student to be mindful. But just as students watch over their notebooks, wallets, keys, and phones, they are able to watch out for their school devices. Accidents are always possible; in fact, I’ve seen many educators break the technology in their own classroom while trying to make it work. If the school implements a policy that encourages students to be extra careful with their school devices, I do not think there would be any more incidents outside of school than inside. Perhaps the students have to agree that if their device is damaged a certain amount of times while outside of school, say two or three, then they are responsible for repairing it themselves. But truly, most students will treat this device as if it is their own (which it essentially is) and try to avoid any destruction of it.
An equally large concern is how to ensure the devices are used appropriately while off school grounds. Before last year, I believed that schools could only block websites and monitor devices while they were connected to the school’s WiFi. But when my sister’s high school invested in 1:1 Chromebooks and allowed them to bring them home, I learned about many different ways they continuously watch how the laptops are used. The Chromebooks all have blocks put onto any websites or downloads that the school doesn’t want their students accessing. This is built into the Chromebooks so it isn’t reliant on what network they are connected to. Additionally, this school uses a program called Gaggle that is essentially an upgraded web filter. This program, which is compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Canvas, will flag any concerning words or phrases on the students’ devices and send a report to the administration to follow-up. For example, if a student were to type an email or into a document saying, “I’m bringing alcohol”, Gaggle would flag it and send an alert to the school so they would be able to reach out to the student and investigate. These are just a few ways that schools are completely capable of keeping their students safe on their devices while they are off school grounds.
When students can bring their devices home with them, their education flows into their home life more smoothly. It ensures that all students can complete any online assignments, access their textbooks, and have a line of communication with their teachers. It is imperative to give our students equal access to all resources and providing 1:1 devices at home helps in that mission. As long as schools are capable of providing the necessary safety features, there is no reason to stop students from taking their devices home with them.
Jessica's Blog: The Learning Curve of Teaching 