BYOD 2025 REVITALISED - Accerelating Student Learning and Maximising Student Outcomes
In Term One Birkdale South surveyed the school community regarding the iPad BYOD Program that had been implemented in approximately 2018. This program was not implemented to it's fullest capability and as a result there were less than 40% of students bringing iPads in Year 4-6. This meant that the iPad was not able to be used as a learning acceleration tool for all students and the teaching team were then not able to fully implement the pedagogical approach required to ensure technology was an accelerator of student learning.
After careful consideration and planning, this week Birkdale South presented a proposal to the P & C to revitalise the BYOD Program in 2025 as a Student Laptop Program (commencing from Year 4, 2025).
The BYOD Laptop Program will provide a cost effective and skill development solution to using technology as an accelerator for student learning rather than the iPad which can be seen by some students are being an entertainment device (where children are consumers of technology rather than producers). After careful consultation with local high schools and local laptop suppliers we have analysed the costs of the laptop device verse an iPad and believe that there is no signficant increase to families if purchasing a base model student laptop with the minimum specifications required for Education Queensland.
Birkdale South have worked closely with local providers to have a recommended supply arrangement that would be placed on our School Website. The school would also provide a 'Help Desk' for parents to access in the set up phase of the BYOD program for their year level cohort. There is no additional software that is required (unlike the iPad that requires parents to purchase the apps) and the only additional accessory is a Targus Case. (No stylus or keyboard would need to be purchased as with the iPad).
The proposal details that commencing in 2025, the current Year 3 students would be the first cohort to implement a BYOD Laptop Program. This program would be phased in over a 4 year period and eventually would include all Year 3-6 students.
We are inviting our wider school community to provide their feedback on the program by participating in an online information session that will run for 30 minutes, hosted by our school leadership team.
At this Parent Information session we will outline the plan to embed a school-wide ICT program that builds our students into confident and capable users and producers of technology (rather than a consumer of technology. We will also outline plans to provide equity devices for families in hardship.
To support parents to attend this we are offering to host this online. In Term 4 a face to face parent information session will be offered specifically for parents in Year 3 to attend.
Whole School Parent Online Information Session: 6.00pm, Tuesday 3rd September (Microsoft Teams Link to be issued via Parent Emails).
Year 3 Parent Face To Face Information Session: 5.00pm Monday 14th October, School Library
Remember, "If we teach today's students as we taught yesterday's students, we rob them off tomorrow." - John Dewy. In a world where technolgoy is rapidly changing and evolving it is important we provide, equip and empower our students with the foundational ICT skills required to navigate a new era of employment and digital citzenship.
Link: BYOD 2025