The awesome Keith Paterson spoke at Conferenz’s Modern & Flexible Learning Conference recently, and we were so enamoured with his talk, we decided to summarise it in a blog (with his permission of course!) for all those that couldn’t be there.
As you probably know, OMGTech! works alongside kaiako nationwide to integrate the digital technologies curriculum into all curriculum areas. One of the most common misconceptions is that if you increase the digital fluency (how do we use tech), then most of the job is done.
Along with this misconception is the idea that BYOD - or bring your own device - and setting up BYOD infrastructure and policies in a kura or a school is the same as digital technologies instruction - spoiler alert! It really isn’t.
Keith is the Digital Technology specialist teacher at Marist College, but was also instrumental in creating their BYOD policy, and here are what we feel were the top takeaways!
OVERARCHING TRENDS
We’ve gone from kaiako knowing the content of what they teach - i.e. rote learning to kaiako facilitating the process of learning. Thus moving from a one-size-fits-all to a personalised structure where the ākonga are at the centre of their learning.
This means we can go from recall and memorising to a problem-based project-based approach. Where instead of a siloed approach, we can be truly cross-curricular and see our ākonga not as individuals but as a collaborative team.
WE NEED A PLAN!
BYOD is so complex that you need a plan that works for your entire kura or school. Here are some of the main questions that Keith used to help formulate Marist’s plan.
How will we connect to the internet?
Will kaiako and ākonga be on the same network? Why? Why not?
Will they be on the same domain?
Do we allow mobile devices? If not, how do we define what is a mobile device?
How will we manage guest access?
Once we’re connected, is the connectivity sufficient?
What is the speed of the network?
What is the speed of the network in different areas of the school? This is super important when you are thinking about wired vs wireless devices. Some spots in your school might have weird wireless dead spots, for example.
Has it been futureproofed for the load it might need to bear in coming years?
Which devices are students allowed to have?
Windows, MacOS, ChromeOS etc etc
Will staff be given PLD on all of the above and more?
What specifications do we require?
How do we check that each student has a working device?
What is the process for setting up a new student?
Can they print?
What happens if a student’s device is lost, stolen, dropped etc?
What happens if there is a hardware issue, an account issue? Struggling with the software in class?
Staff Support!
Where do staff go if they have technical issues?
Where do staff go if they have pedagogical issues?!
Where are files stored?
School administration
Digital Archives
Departmental administration
Student work
How do we communicate with parents?
THE VISION
Of course, we need to know why we are doing this. Keith (and others we’ve worked with over the years) have found that if you keep in mind a lofty end goal, you will battle through the mire of technical difficulties!
LIFE LONG LEARNERS
We want 21st century, digitally literate, life-long learners. We want our ākonga to use technology to connect, collaborate and learn with others all around the world. We want them to use a range of skills across all learning areas to become ethically minded digital citizens.
GIVE US A CALL
If your kura or school has just started on this journey, kōrero mai, we’d be happy to help! We’re accredited through the Ministry of Education to provide PLD, so it might even be free for you!