Crossing the Device Divide: With the Help of Browser-Based Software, Students in BYOD Districts Can Be on the Same Page Even If They Have Different Devices

This is the fifth in six-part monthly series examining how different technologies can help schools enhance collaboration among students. Previous installments have covered social media configurable furniture interactive devices and apps to make iPads collaborative. When school district leaders talk about the potential benefits of your own programs, they often mention budget savings and promoting personalized, mobile learning. They note that BYOD can expand the boundaries of learning beyond the classroom. But not many of these leaders mention enhanced student collaboration as benefit of BYOD. This is partly because, when students coma to class bearing devices on multiple platforms, sharing resources can get complicated. Doug Johnson, the director of libraries and technology for the Mankato Public Schools (MN), says his district has been experimenting with BYOD this year. To ease collaboration issues, Menkato has teachers using device-neutral platforms, including Google Apps and Moodle. Teachers and students use the Moodle LMS to share assignments and syllabi. Students use Google Apps for e-mail, document storage, and collaborative writing projects, and Poll Everywhere for student response system. These browser-based apps are compatible with range of devices and operating systems, Johnson says, adding that teachers are still struggling with the more basic issue of how to adjust when students far to bring their devices to class. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] So far, although 90 percent of Mankato high school students surveyed before the BYOD project said they had their own devices, many fewer seem willing to bring them to school on regular basis. Students end up having to collaborate by sharing devices or using devices the school owns. Some teachers are shy of BYOD because they can't count on the students to bring them, he says. may be that 1-to-1 program will make more sense eventually. Device-Neutral Platforms Meanwhile, many instructional technology leaders in BYOD schools and districts are working through issues around access to devices end shared curriculum resources to find new ways to help teachers foster collaboration. They are out to prove that students can work together even if they aren't all carrying the same devices into class. For the most part, this means finding device-neutral, browser-based applications. Paso Robles Public Schools (CA), for example, are taking advantage of cloud-based solution from Lightspeed Systems called MyBig Campus. Described as part learning management system, part social network, and part content management system, My Big Campus lets students collaborate, store documents, and work on projects in safe environment, says Scott Knuckles, the district's director of information and technology. In recent Education Talk Radio interview, Knuckles named the top benefits of his district's BYOD effort--and collaboration was right near the top of his list. Besides working with classmates during school hours, Paso Robles students can now work together on homework or comment on each other's work in My Big Campus. Knuckles describes it as a combination of Facebook and Moodle, and BYOD fits right in with it. Anytime, anywhere, and with any device they are able to collaborate on projects. It has been fun to watch it grow, and it has been student-driven. Knuckles recalls seeing six students in high school library working on project on Thomas Jefferson. There was an eclectic mix of devices being used: I saw two iPod Touches; I saw an older MacBook; I saw an old laptop. And they were collaborating. Blendedschools.net, not-for-profit based in McVeytown, PA, offers schools hosted K-12 curriculum, learning technologies, and professional development. It works with 180 districts in six states. Of those, approximately 30 are BYOD environments, says Mark Gensimore, vice president of business. …