BYOD stands for bring your own device, which is a movement where school districts, schools, and other officials encourage students to use their own technological devices for educational purposes.
Fortunately, the fascination for BYOD continues to grow. That’s because students today have essentially grown up with technology all around them and view it as a tool they can use in every aspect of their lives – including education.
That’s because students love having their handheld devices with them at all times, and they aren’t just using devices – like the iPhone 8 to check their social media accounts, text friends, and make phone calls. As a matter of fact, students have not only begun using technology to study, but they’ve also begun using it to help them with their homework assignments as well. The theory behind this idea is if students can master how to use the latest technology, they’ll also be able to improve their academic performance in the classroom, which in return, would increase their career opportunities – specifically in the STEM education realm, according to the University of Cincinnati.
So now comes one of the most important education questions to date: Can students really benefit more in STEM education by including their own devices in the lesson plan? Although there’s lots of room for debate on this topic, here are some benefits of introducing this new learning style into the classroom environment.
Students’ Knowledge & Participation Will Increase in STEM Education
Some teachers find that giving in a little when it comes to devices can have a greater effect in the long run. In other words, teachers know that if they allow a couple minutes each day for students to interact with their devices in the classroom, their students will be more compliant with learning STEM-related topics. These devices, however, must be used for something beneficial and educational in order for any this to make sense. That way, students don’t view it as an opportunity to play games, listen, and check out their social media accounts.
Students like using their devices no matter where they are. So why not let them? Teachers, along with other education officials, can create lesson plans that require students to use their personal devices in order to find the answer. In doing so, students will also have to rely on classmates to help them with solving a specific problem. It only makes sense to utilize their passion for technology in the classroom if you really want to see a boost in STEM education, right?
Learning (About STEM Education) Keeps Them Motivated
Teaching students in the digital age has become less about direct knowledge and more about educating students on how to handle an overwhelming amount of information. However, by introducing the BYOD method, students can control what information they’re being exposed to in the classroom environment. This allows students to have more authority over their own learning than ever before. They can ask difficult questions regarding STEM-related topics, for example, and conduct their own research instead of sitting in a classroom listening to a boring lecture.
Introducing inquiry-based projects is another great way to encourage students to think rather than memorizing information. Group projects, for example, can help students improve their skills in communication, teamwork, and critical thinking. Students can even use their devices to connect with other schools – depending on the school district – to work on collaborative assignments.
You Can Personalize Assignments – Depending on the Student
For teachers, it can be difficult to accommodate all the learning styles. Luckily, technology can help make the job a little bit easier. Teachers, for instance, can use devices to accommodate for the different learning styles – auditory, visual, kinesthetic, solitary, etc. – then grant students the ability to learn the material at their own pace. In doing this, students can stay organized and experience a unique way of learning the material by swapping roles with their teachers.
By allowing students the ability to follow along using their personal device, students are able to spend more time outside the classroom learning. They’ll be able to transport their class work, homework, and education projects with them anywhere they go. The best part is that as long as students have their personal devices on them – which is essentially all the time – they can continue learning about the material outside the classroom. Who would have thought learning would be as easy as swiping a finger?
It Creates New Ways for Students to Learn the Material
In order for districts to successfully integrate STEM education into K-12 learning, they must find a way to include model-eliciting activities into the subject. This means that teachers, along with other officials, should think of creative ways to challenge their students in STEM education rather than presenting content that discourages them from it.
Educators in favor of students bringing their own devices to class might find it beneficial to know that students are more likely to pay attention when technological devices are involved in the curriculum. Most school districts that want to improve their STEM education program find it hard to come up with the money to fund the program. But by adopting the BYOD method, school districts no longer have to worry about buying laptops, and tablets for each of their students. This means that money the schools saved from allowing students to bring their own devices can be spent on other essentials – like on a new whiteboard, or new desks.
In the end, despite all the concerns surrounding this learning style method, the prevalence of handheld devices in the classroom shouldn’t be discouraged by school board members. However, the decision to incorporate these devices into the day-to-day learning environment should be made only after considering student performance levels, teacher training, and parental consent.
Thanks for the read! Did I miss anything? What are some other ways the BYOD method can improve the education quality in the STEM career field? Feel free to leave a comment below.
