All of your questions about BYOC are answered here

How many times a week will you be using BYOC?

BYOC will be used on a daily basis to support the learning across Reading, Writing and Numeracy as well as any topic or Inquiry aspects. There is no set time frame for this it will be purely a case by case situation where students will be provided with tasks that encourage the use of balanced programme (including using their device).

Is it a good idea for kids to be able to comment on others work? How will you deal with negative comments that could be potentially be posted?
Commenting on other students work is the most powerful form of feedback within a classroom. We are confident that by setting high expectations of behaviour and having clear boundaries and consequences through our class rights and responsibilities code, that the children will ensure this tool is used appropriately.

If children are sharing a document what will happen if someone deletes another person’s work?
It is important to highlight that children can only work on/adjust others work if they are invited to do so by the author. However, if things were to be adjusted in a negative capacity there is a tool that restores previous versions before they were altered. This tool also shows us which person it was that made the alteration.

What is the general need for BYOC?
We are always searching for ways to improve teaching and learning BYOC allows students to shape a device to suit their individual needs and act as an effective learning tool in which has shaped the world that they live. Every year more and more secondary schools are making BYOC compulsory, as with any other curriculum area, it is vital we prepare our students for this transition. It is also simply impossible for a school to fund this amount of devices.

Will BYOC distract my child and cause them to fall behind?
All teachers will still have the same required targets to meet. Individual tracking and assessment will continue as always with BYOC supplementing what is already done so well. BYOC will only add to the already rich learning opportunities your child has.

What if my child is slow at typing? Will this slow the learning process down?
Our BYOC programme will be scaffolded to meet the student’s preferred learning style. Obviously, if a child preferred to use pen and paper to draft out a story, then they would do so. Some children will prefer using a device to record their work; others will prefer pencil and paper. The programme is designed to meet individual needs, and to still work in an exercise book is perfectly fine.

Will the children be on the computers too much and will this replace the teacher group learning?
No. The digital devices will act as a tool to enhance their learning but certainly won’t replace group or individual teacher time in reading, written language or mathematics.

How will BYOC be used at reading time?
Depending on the age and stage of your child, reading will be run in the same manner that it has been with student groups meeting with the teacher once or twice a week for a guided reading session of a text. Students will then be given a reading follow up activity which will be designed to enhance their comprehension of the text and linked to the student’s current reading focus. Having a device on hand will allow the teacher to set a broader range of follow up activities utilising software such as Microsoft word, PowerPoint, comic life, the internet, as well as camera and video recording tools.

Won’t handwriting be done anymore?
Yes it will still be done.

How will BYOC be used at story writing time?
In story writing time devices will be used by students who wish to plan and complete writing tasks using free online tools such as Google Docs. Students will be taught how to plan, structure, create and share written work effectively. Students who would prefer or benefit from completing written language tasks using pencil and paper will still be given this opportunity. The device could also be used to research a topic before writing (just as it is now).

How will BYOC be used at Maths time?
Maths time will be run much the same as it has been with students being taught in a range of whole class and group learning situations. BYOC will allow students to complete ‘Maths Buddy’ reinforcement activities on their own device to supplement their learning.

Other examples of how do we use BYOC in our Learning Hubs
Years 5-8
Studyladder
Google Classroom – specific reading/writing tasks or activities posted by the teacher
Google Docs and Slides – students creating docs/slides. Groups of students can work on the same document at the same time, give feedback etc
Collaborative presentations
Communicating and working with other schools
Maths buddy
Learnz
Fitness
Animation
Making movies
Kahoots
Quizlets
Coding
Robotics

How is access to the wireless system controlled?
It is managed using our wireless system (Ruckus).

Will my child’s device be able to easily access the wireless system?
Each child will be able to access the BYOD wireless network, this is an open network with a password needed to access the internet.

What will my child be able to access from their device on the wireless network?
They will be able to access the internet only between the hours of 8:15am – 4:00pm, Monday to Friday, with permission. If a student needs to print they must seek permission from a teacher. Work can only be printed via their teacher’s device. 

Who is responsible for the security, maintenance, and charging of the BYOC equipment?
You as a parent/caregiver have overall responsibility for your child’s equipment. We also discuss with students how to care for their device. A storage area in the class will be available for students to use at interval and lunch. The school accepts no responsibility for any damage or theft of a device. This needs to covered under your own insurance.

Will students be able to access their devices at interval and lunch?
In most cases no. Devices will remain in the Learning Hubs locked. However, with our senior students, there are opportunities for them to negotiate with their teacher and use their device during break times if they need to complete work. On wet days under teacher supervision devices can be used. Currently, the internet is switched off during interval and lunchtimes.

Will my device come setup? Do I need to purchase additional software?
No additional software is required. As long as your device has the ‘Chrome’ browser, students get will connect to our network and they will have their own login. Accounts are being monitored by us. On the first use, students have to go through Linewize and log in to their Google account. They can not access the internet until this has been done.
Students are able to do this. We will support any student who needs help. We also have a full-time IT administrator who can support both staff and students as required.

What systems are installed to prevent my child’s device from accessing online games etc and downloading content? We DON’T want another means for them to ‘waste time playing games.’

This comes down to expectations, monitoring of websites, history etc. We can only control what is happening at school and we have particular social media sites blocked through the student wifi setup, We also run 2 filters. One is the Ministry backed N4L and we also have Linewize which students are automatically connected too.
This again filters out certain words, phrases. Our IT administrator can access regular reports and is emailed the user's details if any blocked words/ phrases are searched for. We then follow up with that student and family if required. Within the hub, we also roam around and check up on our students. At any stage, we can ask to view their
device if we feel it has been used inappropriately. Again parents should know their children’s passwords so they can do this at home.

Is putting an 8- 10 year old in charge of a device really a great idea?
This is a perfect age to take on more responsibility. Students thrive on having ownership and responsibility for something. We teach students about caring for devices and the value placed on them. We also have expectations about how and where devices are left in our learning hubs.

Will my child be on a device all day?
At Marshland there are still times and opportunities where students use books, pens and pencils to complete different tasks. True, devices are becoming part of our kids lives from Day 1, as digital natives this will not change. The use of devices will only ever increase as technology continues to creep into all areas of employment. Balance is the key!