Castle Dome Middle School students turn digital devices into learning tools

Castle Dome Middle School has recently adopted a new policy — “Bring Your Own Device” or BYOD.

The BYOD policy, adopted by the school's parent council and administration earlier this month, allows students to turn their own personal digital devices into learning tools in the classroom.

In order to do so, however, students must have permission from their parents and a signed Acceptable Use Policy form which details the acceptable and unacceptable use of the items on campus. Parents and the students are both required to sign the policy.

Castle Dome Principal Lori Sheffield said, “In our continuous efforts to raise academic achievement, while teaching today's students to be tomorrow's workforce, our students must be able to collaborate effectively while using technology.”

The policy allows students to continue on their journey to becoming digital citizens.

“The goal of this program is to teach students the responsible and safe way to connect using digital tools, including protecting personal information, limiting what information is shared, and responsible use of digital tools in social and learning environments,” she said.

“In many cases, parents and students are using digital tools throughout the day to keep in touch. This harnesses the power of these devices and turns the ‘computer in your pocket' into a learning tool. Also, many personal digital devices have faster connectivity than the Macbooks currently used at the school.”

Students are not required to provide a digital tool and parents can choose whether or not they want their child to use their device at school. For those students that do not have devices, the campus is expected to receive an order of instructional iPads for classroom use within the next month.

Through using the devices in the classroom, students will be able to download supplemental information from various bar codes imbedded in presentations, take photos of material from a multimedia white board to review for exams and assignments, access videos and blogs on a secure social networking website for students and teachers, and text answers immediately to the screen at the front of the class.

For more information, contact Sheffield at lsheffield@yumaed.org or 502-7300.

Sarah Womer can be reached at swomer@yumasun.com or 539-6858. Find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/YSSarahWomer or on Twitter at @YSSarahWomer.