What is BYOT? — iLearn @ Wycliffe

BYOD – Bring Your Own Device BYOT – Bring Your Own Technology

Today’s pupils are digital natives who live in a multimedia world dominated by the internet and social media applications like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. They prioritise visual learning, demand creativity and as we know, sometimes they learn best through trial and error. They constantly connect and collaborate and access information that is live and linked. 21st century learning is ‘MOBILE’ and pupils live in a world with anytime, anywhere access to information at their fingertips. Technology has provided our young people with a social, collaborative world. They thrive on teamwork and figuring things out with their friends.

Bring your own Device/Technology (BYOD/BYOT) is a process that allows pupils and/or staff to use their own personal electronic devices at work/school. In addition to traditional devices like calculators, schools can now allow pupils to use their handheld devices and laptops for daily classroom use and research as long as they have the infrastructure to support it. But does that mean that we are going completely paperless? Not quite… Yet!

Benefits of BYOD/BYOT

Learning anytime, anywhere without timetabling/schedule or access restrictions to IT suites - BYOT will allow learning to be ‘complementary’ to classroom based learning and not a ‘replacement’ for it
Parent- financed, allowing schools to devote much-needed funding to other IT projects or technologies
Personalised devices
Devices are commonly more up-to-date with newer features
No repairs or maintenance by the school itself
Cost-effective, works with decreasing technology budgets
Allows for immediate application in the classroom
Competitive pricing of tablets, smartphones, and laptop computers- BYOD a viable option for many families
Replicates a technology-rich environment already common in higher education and business
Flexibility - support different learners with different needs