Booth MS BYOT Initiative

1. Booth MS BYOT Initiative

2. Booth MS BYOT Initiative • BMS is one of two schools in Fayette County that piloted BYOT in the Spring of 2012. School district initiated this. All schools now have WiFi capability, paid for with SPLOST funds. • We adopted a “go slow” approach. • We are not mandating the use of these devices by teachers for instruction, but strongly encouraging it. • We are not requiring any student to have a device. • A number of teachers have developed classroom lessons that allow students to use these devices in a productive and interactive way. • Our teachers have been sharing what they have learned with each other and other schools. • Predicting 5 years to fully implement.

3. Why BYOT? • Today’s students have been called “digital natives.” Technology is an integral part of how they communicate, seek knowledge, and process information. • Aids in the goal of having one-to-one technology • Students can use what they know (their own device) • Broadens learning beyond the classroom. • Prepares students for higher education and tomorrow’s workplace.

4. Why BYOT? Address the 21st Century Skills we need to teach: • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving • Collaboration Across Networks & Leading by Influence • Agility & Adaptability • Initiative & Entrepreneurialism • Effective Oral & Written Communication • Accessing & Analyzing on-line Information • Curiosity and Imagination

5. Why BYOT? • Research shows improvements in: • Attention • Engagement and motivation • Critical thinking & problem solving • Discipline • Graduation rates • Achievement on standardized tests

6. Why BYOT? • Education researcher Robert Marzano says, “Applied effectively, technology not only increases student learning, understanding, and achievement but also augments motivation to learn, encourages collaborative learning, and supports the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.” • The power of student use of technology does not lie in the device itself. The power is in what the device helps the student do.

7. Why BYOT? • The Mid-Continent Regional Education Laboratory (McREL) identified 246 separate studies that demonstrate that the use of nonlinguistic representations has a very strong positive effect on student learning. For years teachers have struggled to find ways to incorporate this strategy. • Digital devices offer a huge array of resources to meet this need—from streaming video to interactive presentations.

8. BYOT Timeline • Oct, 2011 – Submitted proposal to be a pilot school • Dec 2011 – Student survey completed. Parent Survey sent out to get feedback. (jcbooth.org website). BYOT Staff Committee organized. • Dec 16, 2011 – Jan 1, 2012 – Wi-Fi infrastructure installed. • Jan 1, 2012 – Principal’s BYOT letter sent to parents thru PTO electronic newsletter on Constant Contact.

9. BYOT Timeline • Jan 2012 • Meeting with the teachers and staff to address our expectations and procedures. • BYOT Contracts (AUA) reviewed in homeroom (PowerPoint provided). – BYOT Student Committee organized. – Morning & evening Parent meeting

10. BYOT Timeline • Jan 2012 – - BYOT Contracts given to all students to take home for parent signatures with report cards. • Grade level assemblies to address behavior expectations and the new BYOT rules. • Students who do not have a signed contract are not allowed to bring to school or use a personal communications device in class nor may they use anyone else's device • + Student Information System ‘Flag’.

11. BYOT Timeline • Jan 17, 2012 – Started allowing students to bring to school their Wi-Fi capable devices for use in classrooms. • Spring 2012: • Monthly District BYOT Pilot Program meetings with Whitewater HS & District Staff. • Visits to Forsyth County and Coweta County schools to observe BYOT implementation in Dec’11, Jan’12 & Feb’12.

12. BYOT Timeline • Feb 28, 2012 –Hosted the 1st BYOT visit. • Apr 2012 – BYOT Use survey for students (+826 responses). • Apr 2012 – Orientation for parents of rising 6th graders on BYOT. • Apr & May 2012 – Hosted more BYOT visits. • 2013: Several Elementary schools pilot BYOT • SY 13-14: • AUA included in our district Student Code of Conduct. • BYOT in all schools **visit jcboth.org to see a presentation on the elementary experience**

13. Keys to a Smooth Implementation 1. Communicate with your stakeholders. Parent and teacher buy-in is critical in middle school for success. 2. Find out what their concerns are and develop policies and procedures to overcome them. 3. Provide a supportive and risk-tolerant environment to teachers and students.

14. Parent Survey Responses(Dec’11 survey)

15. Parent Survey ResponseWhat are their major concerns?

16. Parent Survey Response

17. Device Safety/Security Issues • Students are responsible to safeguard, supervise and secure their devices. • Students are expected to RESPECT the property of others. • On-line registration of devices for parents. http://www.jcbooth.org/(+710 registered) • Adhesive I.D. labels initially provided. • Secure classrooms. • Individual student lockers. • Restrict use in unsupervised areas. • Handle theft or damage as a discipline matter. • Will not be required to have other students use their device (not required to share).

18. Restrict Inappropriate Use • Students must be RESPONSIBLE – same expectation for computer use. High Expectations. • Only BYOT Wi-Fi can be used to access internet (NO cell phone – 3G/4G access allowed). Turn it off! • Wi-Fi has district filter but no log-on required. • Teacher may confiscate any device being used inappropriately. • School discipline procedures will be enforced. (SY 11-12: 58 / SY 12-13: 118 / SY 13-14: 26) • Teachers will actively monitor use. • Rules now outlined in the Student Handbook & District Student Code of Conduct. • Digital Citizenship – provide training & awareness • Common Sense Media – a great resource

19. Reduce Distractions • Teachers have complete control over the use of devices in their classroom. • “DEVICES UP” & “DEVICES DOWN” signs are be provided for display in each classroom. • Teachers should let students know in advance when devices can be used in a lesson. • Some classroom have device storage locations. • Students NOT allowed to use their devices in common areas: in the halls/unsupervised areas. • This year they are allowed to use them before school – gym/cafeteria &lunch/recess (except 6th grade)

20. Equity Issue • Concerned if a child cannot provide a device that they will not be left out. • Concerns about “device envy.” • We are working with our school's stakeholders and other community resources to try to address this, but it hasn't been resolved. (Note: all grant proposals have been turned down so far) • Provisional Plan: • Students will be able to work in groups with one device. • Use the student computers already in many classrooms. • NOTE: School district doesn’t want us to accepted donated used devices.

21. Classroom Usage

22. 21st Century Students

23. How are the devices being used? “Doing Old things in New Ways: • Access current references and information (Atlas, Almanac, Dictionary, Thesaurus, Weather, Current events, Translator, etc.) • Access teacher & content websites. • Take and share notes; access notes from web pages. • Organization – calendar/ files/ assignments/ reminders, etc. • Tune instruments; preview music; learn music theory. • Student and teacher collaboration & communication. • Access textbooks & publisher’s resources online. • Document labs; take surveys. • Study aide: digital flashcards for word stems, spelling & math. • Much more – we are researching creative ways of improving student engagement, motivation and learning & we are depending on our students to lead the way! “Do new things in new ways”

24. Edmodo • A secure website used to discuss school related materials. Password protected. • Students can ask questions about homework to both teachers and to other students. • Students can access a homework calendar • Teachers can communicate with students, parents, or other teachers. • Both an Android app and an IOS app are available (Free)

27. Online Textbooks • Students can access some books on their device. • Students can see interactive images and take digital quizzes. • Students don’t have to carry a book around with them • Allows for better teacher presentations using the overhead projector

29. Infinite Campus • System-wide student information system. • Online grade book for teachers, students and parents. • Accessible 24/7. • Parents and students receive digital notifications about grades and missing/failingassignments. • Free Android and IOS app

31. EVERNOTE Digital Notebook • Students can now access the PowerPoint before class and have the notes on their device.  This allows the student to focus more on the content versus the writing. • Students can take pictures of lab activities – examples:  microscope pictures, genetic traits lab, outdoor garden, notes/drawings on the whiteboard

32. Digital Notebook • Students can now access the PowerPoint before class and have the notes on their device. This allows the student to focus more on the content versus the writing. • Students can take pictures of lab activities – examples: microscope pictures, genetic traits lab, outdoor garden, notes/drawings on the whiteboard

33. General Research • Students use their own devices to find information about lesson content. • Students can use research applications and notebooks to organize their findings. An example of a great researching app is Evernote - a free app for Android and IOS. • Students are not spending academic time moving around the building to computer labs or libraries. They are not wasting time logging into computers.

34. Example Lesson Plans Utilizing Technology -Genetics traits -Microscope images -Geocaching with genetics -Poll Everywhere -QR codes -Singing and recording, then sharing -PowerPoints directly from student devices • Flipped classroom • Self-directed learning

35. Cheek Cell Observations Observing cheek cells using a compound light microscope. Students took pictures of their cells with their devices and shared them on Edmodo.

36. Cheek Cell Observations

37. Genetic Traits Students learned about specific genetic traits and observed the phenotypes of other students. They posted pictures of the traits on Edmodo so other members of the class could see.

38. Geocaching with Genetics Vocabulary

39. Results of Student Survey Spring 2013

40. Results of Student Survey Spring 2013

41. Results of Student Survey Spring ‘13

42. Results of Student Survey Spring ‘13

43. Improved Academic Achievement

44. Q & A • What questions or concerns do you have? A copy of this presentation is available on the jcboothms.org website.