Bring Your Own Device

Dear Parents/Guardians:

 We want to explore how handheld electronics can be used in the classroom by students to increase engagement, motivation, and learning.  Countless nationwide surveys and studies show that student knowledge improves when coupled with technology, and handheld electronics are an essential part of 21st century learning.  We would like to utilize the handheld electronics that students already own and know how to work (i.e., non-serviced iPhones without sim card, iPods, iPads, Nook, etc).   Please note we are not requiring or requesting you to buy any devices!

The use of these handheld devices will not be daily, or always extensive.  There are times they will only make up a few minutes out of a day; it will depend upon the teacher’s instruction and the curriculum being covered.   Here are some planned uses:

 

1)  Use of a variety of apps for instructional purposes

2)   Communicating with peers on Blogs and Edmodo website

  (Note: responses are usually filtered, and user names or numbers are never displayed.)

3)  Creating multimedia projects where pictures, video, or audio may be captured.

4)  Special (free) access to our school's wi-fi network.  Students might use safe, kid-friendly search engines to research or connect to the internet for other specific purposes.

 

We will have some handheld electronic devices to supplement students that do not own a device. All devices will be kept in the classroom in a locked file cabinet when they are not being used.  Your child will be the only child using their device, therefore they will be responsible for it and any damages will not be covered by Centerfield Elementary. When beginning this process I will send a parent email and Edmodo reminder to bring devices to school the following day. We may eventually move into bringing devices every day once we get more familiarized and comfortable with the use and management of having devices coming from home. 

 

A paper copy of this letter will be coming home today.  Make sure to sign and return the back page to me.