BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)

BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE

By Rosemary Rico 

BYOD or “Bring Your Own Device” is a term that references the practice of allowing the use of an individuals own personal devices (phones, tablets, laptops). This term applies frequently to work place employees and also in educational spaces such as schools. As there is a need to increase greater access to technology and mobility BYOD is a practice that is currently on the rise within the workplace and within classrooms.

Certainly there are advantages to BOYD policies as well as potential issues that should be considered when allowing a BOYD policy. For workplace policies, employers should consider that personal devices with workplace sensitive or business privileged information would be at a higher risk without investing in software programs such as anti-virus or data protection and recovery programs (Hodge). There are advantages to BOYD in the workplace such as increasing efficiency with greater workplace mobility—there is a constant connection to the workplace, everywhere you go. So since devices such as cell phones would be used for business purposes during work hours and for personal reasons after work hours (such as online shopping or internet browsing)—these are important considerations to think of (Hodge).

BOYD policies within classrooms and education also face advantages and potential issues that should be considered. Schools face an increasing pressure to provide greater access to the internet and to technology with tighter and tighter budget constraints (Cavanagh). It is schools like this that may benefit the most from BOYD policies. One such advantage of BOYD within the classrooms is giving students a sense of ownership in which they are responsible for their learning and their actual devices (Thompson). Potential concerns within the classroom would be the threat of distractions and unwanted personal usage such as texting during lessons. Teachers would need to understand and anticipate these potential concerns and create an engaging lesson plan to deter this kind of behavior so that the devices are only used when appropriate. Success of BOYD comes down to how prepared the teachers and educators are for various devices of various ages being used in the classroom (Thompson).

Works Cited: 

Cavanagh, Sean. "Districts Turn 'BYOD' Disorder to Their Advantage; Flexibility sought in dealing with sea of devices." Education Week, 11 June 2015, p. 26. Opposing Viewpoints In Context, http://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/apps/doc/A418872041/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=OVIC&xid=13fd9efc.

Hodge, Ian. "How to protect your business secrets in the age of smartphones." Australian [National, Australia], 23 Nov. 2013, p. 44. Opposing Viewpoints In Context, http://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/apps/doc/A349991774/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=OVIC&xid=2977802c.

Thompson, Greg. "3 Keys to a Successful 1-To-1 and BYOD Implementation." T H E Journal, vol. 44, no. 5, Fall2017, pp. 14-18. EBSCOhost, login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=126029338&site=ehost-live&scope=site.