Support Strategies
To Begin: BYOD (Bring your own device)
Widespread ownership of mobile devices among students means that many students will use them to connect, read, access and locate more data and information, complete tasks and support other personal learning needs. Their own (or perhaps shared) devices are a central pivot around which they organize their lives.
Sometimes these devices are welcomed in class, other times they are a distraction
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)1 is not about tech parity. Students’ devices differ in terms of hardware specifications, software, connectivity, carriage services or other technology applications. BYOD is about supporting student’s current digital skills and developing greater fluency, so that greater agency might develop. BYOD also acknowledges the importance of giving priority to student choice and their voice. If it is used within the constraints of the university’s acceptable use policy (AUP) and the users agree to be accountable to the norms of a department/course/lecturer. BYOD offers new flexibilities to the hybrid course developer. Recommendations regarding device specifications, software and accessories should not be prescribed globally to all students. If there are minimum expectations of BYOD devices, then these should be negotiated in class.
Pre-requisite Skills
If BYOD use is encouraged, then a common skill set should not be assumed across the class. It needs to be ascertained if students can
- Install apps/programmes on their device (if shared with others, such as those in a library or computer lab, it will typically not allow you to install software);
- Save files (memory stick hard drive/ to the cloud) and retrieve them later;
- Perform a web search and use a web browser to navigate various websites;
- Troubleshoot technology prior to participating in any new activities;
- Configure their device to receive important notifications;
- Access their student email address or change their email address;
- Enter important dates into their calendar and remind them when deadlines are approaching.