BYOD stands for "bring your own device." The Haverford Upper School's Student Device program requires that every student bring to school each day a portable digital computer for use as an organizational tool, a research portal, and a collaboration platform under the direction of a teacher or administrator.
Already ubiquitous in the social lives of our students, technology is an increasingly essential component of their professional (i.e., school) lives as well. Your son uses technology as an in-school work management tool and as a means of communicating and collaborating, unimpeded by the confines of time and space, with classmates, teachers, and experts in the field.
As we move towards a blended model of e-books, open-source resources, and teacher-generated content, easy and quick access to a computing device will only become more important. Emerging technologies also offer teachers new opportunities to provide timelier feedback to each boy, collect data about his learning experience, and use what he or she has learned from it to tailor curricula to individual needs. We are excited to capitalize on these and other opportunities on behalf of your son.
Access to personalized devices will provide the capability and resources that will empower student voice and ensure that learning is a student-driven process. For more information, visit International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for Students.
Among the many benefits, we believe that the BYOD program:
- Makes possible a 21st Century classroom
- Fosters student ownership of their own learning
- Allows real-time access to a greater amount of information
- Creates a smooth transition between home and school
- Provides easier student access to online instructional materials
- Supplements school resources and equipment
- Facilitates communication and collaboration