My School Rocks! 2014-03 - Our 10th Anniversary Edition | Page 10

TECHNOLOGY USE DEPENDS ON

RESPONSIBILITY

CMS elementary schools enact BYOT
in slightly different ways. However,
all schools must follow The Children’s
Internet Protection Act (CIPA),
requiring all network access to be
filtered while in a public school.

Logan D.

This means certain websites deemed
inappropriate will be blocked from
access via the school network. Yes,
students may be able to access
whatever content they want via
a cellular network, but this is not
permitted while in school.

While the district does not require
a special-permission form for BYOT,
some schools require parents and
students to sign a form.
A student’s BYOT privilege can
be revoked if a teacher or other
administrator feels the student is not
following proper guidelines.
If a device is lost, stolen or damaged,
the school district is not responsible.
So, locks, software and vigilance may
help ensure a BYOT device doesn’t
become a GONE device.

KIDS WEIGH IN ON BYOT
By Logan D. - Fifth grade, McKee Road Elementary School

WHAT IS BYOT?
Bring Your Own Technology.
HOW DOES BYOT WORK?
BYOT is a fun and modern way to use
your devices such as an iPad, tablet,
computer, iPod, Surface or Kindle in
school. You use BYOT for reading,
studying and during free time.
WHAT ARE EXAMPLES OF BYOT?
In my fifth grade class, we can
BYOT on days where we have an
experiment for science on Discovery
Education. This website gives us a
special boost with professionals in
science, math and more. We use
videos to follow along and complete
an experiment to show how the
technique of what we are learning
works. I borrow my school’s iPad on

10 – My School Rocks! | March 2014

these days. In my sister Ivy’s third
grade class, she’s allowed to BYOT
on “Technology Tuesdays.” These
days, she conducts research for
projects or reads on her iPod Touch.
Also, during an indoor recess, most
classes are allowed to play on their
devices.
WHAT DO STUDENTS THINK?
Logan, his sister Ivy and their friends
at McKee Road Elementary School
shared their thoughts on BYOT.
• Ava C. (third grade): I think it’s
awesome to play games at recess
and watch Discovery Education. I
bring my iPod to school because it’s
easy to carry. I use the calculator for
math.

• Leah C. (third grade): BYOT is
great because playing games during
free time or reading are both things I
like. I also use Google for research.
• Ivy D. (third grade): It’s easier to
write notes on a device instead of
writing and losing notes on paper. I
also think web links are helpful.
• Jackson L. (fifth grade): I think
BYOT is a great idea for kids who have
something to read on a Kindle or iPad.
It helps them interact and creates a fun
learning experience.
• Logan D. (fifth grade):
I think people should use BYOT
because if you carry all those heavy
science and math books it does get
heavy and hurts your spine.

www.myschoolrocks.com | My School Rocks!

11