West Bay School implemented a BYOD program over several years, starting by encouraging intermediate students to bring their own devices in 2011-2012 and providing laptop carts for those who could not. In 2012-2013, teachers integrated personal devices into lessons and the school conducted an action research project on 1:1 computing. By January 2014, after communicating the benefits to parents and students, the number of intermediate students with personal devices increased from 139 to 155 out of 173 students across all grades. Teachers reported that personal devices increased student engagement, allowed for quick research and responses, and fostered creativity through various digital projects.

1. BYOD
West Bay’s Story

2. The History
• November, 2011
• Technology Plan
• “Intermediate students
will be encouraged to bring
their own personal devices.”
• “Recognizing that not all
students will have access to a personal device, the
school will provide 4 carts of refurbished laptops.”
• “One storage cart for each of the intermediate classes
will allow personal devices to be stored safely and
securely.”

3. The History
2012-2013 School Year
• Teachers encouraged students to bring in own
devices
• Drop-down projectors consistently used by
teachers
• On site DL support
• District 1:1 Action Research Project in the
spring

4. 1:1 Action Research Project
• Students surveyed before and after:
• Overwhelmingly positive response regarding the
benefits
• Students learned creative ways to demonstrate their
understanding using a variety of software programs
• Teachers reported:
• High level of student engagement
• Student sense of pride and ownership in their
learning

5. This Year….
September, 2013
• Curriculum Evening - Annual School Plan
• PAC Meeting
October, 2013
• Technology Committee meeting:
• Reviewed 2011 Tech Plan
• Discussed # of students bringing own devices
• Looked at functionality of school laptops
• Discussed allocation of PAC funds
• Drafted letter to parents

6. Letter to Grade 5 – 7 Parents
• “Our goal is to have the majority of our students in
Grades 5 – 7 bringing a device by January, 2014.”
• Device recommendations made in
in consultation with Rockridge
teachers
• 1:1 Action Research
• Linked to Tech Plan
• Linked to School Plan
• Linked to today’s learners

7. Parent Information Session

8. The Results
Division
Grade
Total
Students
# with
devices
(Sept 2013)
# with
devices
(Jan 2014)
1
6/7
28
25
26
2
6/7
29
22
26
3
6/7
29
26
26
4
6/7
28
28
28
5
5
30
13
23
6
5
29
25
26
173
139
155

9. What about the learning?
• Personal Devices:
• Speed the learning process along
• Increase student engagement
• Enable students to answer questions quickly
(“one-to-world”)
• Foster creativity - projects like: stop motion film,
Claymation, movies
• Support students with written output issues (consistent
access is important)

10. To Summarize…
• Link to learning
• Support for teachers
• Teachers model advantages
• Provide alternatives
• Safe, secure storage
• Clear, ongoing communication
• Parent education