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Students » Bring Your Own Device

Bring Your Own Device

WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE AND WHY!
 
What is BYOT and why is it being implemented?
 
  • Bring Your Own Technology is a PVSD initiative for students to use their personal Wi-Fi capable device at school. Students can be more productive by using their devices to take notes, access digital resources, and information whenever and wherever they need it. As teachers begin to embed devices into the learning experience, it is hoped learners will be provided a more enriched environment.
    • It is a voluntary program that families can choose to participate in.
    • Teachers will allow the use of these devices in their classrooms only to support learning.
 
The formal goal statement for BYOT is:  "Prairie Valley School Division is implementing a formal Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) student program to support the strategic priority of embedding technology. By using their own devices, students will be supporting their own learning; digital literacy, creativity, innovation, collaboration, and all of their learning needs. Specifically, BYOT will provide increased access to technology to support student learning, honouring their personal digital tool preferences." Rolling out BYOT to all PVSD schools is part Board of Education's Strategic Plan.
 
Who can participate?
  • Robert Southey School students are invited to participate in the BYOT program. 
  • Teachers will be provided with professional development opportunities to assist them in effectively using devices in the classrooms, 'tucking' them into effective instructional and assessment practices. 
 
What devices can a student bring?  
 
  • Any internet/Wi-Fi capable device
    1. i.e. Laptop, tablet, iPad, smartphone, iPod touch
  • Recommendation:  A tablet/iPad or laptop will meet more of the needs of the student in all areas of the learning experience such as:
    • Researching, storing and retrieving information
    • Demonstrating of knowledge (i.e. creating presentations, videos, documents, websites)
    • Productivity (i.e. email, note taking, calendar management)
    • Collaborating with peers, experts, mentors, teachers, etc.
    • Accessing applications required for inquiry, exploration and discovery of concepts
    • Accessing digital textbooks and other digital content required in the learning environment.
 
When can students bring their devices?
 
  1. When the device is on Prairie Valley School Division property, users are bound by the Board's Acceptable Use policies, specifically Policy APF-1300.1 for students. Administrative Procedures can be found at the Prairie Valley School Division website at www.pvsd.ca under Publications.  Refer to these policies for more details.
Where can they use them?
 
  1. Students will be allowed to use their devices in the classroom and throughout the school to support their learning.  Students are expected to follow the appropriate and safe use of these devices.
Other Frequently Asked Questions:
 
  1. Will there be a place for students to secure their devices at school? 
  • Students are responsible for any personal items, including devices which they choose to bring to school. 
      • For elementary students, classrooms will be locked during recess and other times as appropriate. Some rooms may have storage lockers available in classrooms or other areas of the school.  Students must speak to their teacher to understand the security options available in their school.
      • Secondary students may use their lockers to secure their devices when they do not need them.
  1. What if a student's device gets stolen or damaged?
    • The student is responsible for all losses or damages to any personal item they bring to school.  Neither the school nor the Board will be held liable for losses or damages to devices.
  2. How can a student charge their device at school?
    • Students should bring their devices to school fully charged every day. If charging is required, students must speak to their teacher to understand the charging options available at their school.
  3. Are any internet sites blocked / filtered on a student's personal device while he/she is at school?
  • Thousands of new internet sites are created each day, many of which are not appropriate for students.  Prairie Valley School Division subscribes to a service that tracks new sites, categorizes them and monitors existing sites for changes. 

5.      Does Prairie Valley School Division track where a student has gone to on the internet on their personal device(s)?

  • All traffic over the PVSD network is tracked, including personal devices.  PVSD does not track traffic that goes over a cellular network, i.e. using the cellular service that may be available on a smartphone. 
  1. What if a student doesn't have a device to bring or chooses not to.  What are the plans for equity?
  • Students who cannot bring a device may be able to borrow the school's devices which are available for sign-out. 

7.      What if a student needs support using their device or getting it to connect? 

    • The division will not provide any support for a device that a student brings in to school beyond allowing it to access the guest wireless.  Printing will not be allowed from these devices.  Students are responsible for getting their device onto the guest wireless and for knowing how to use their device.