BYOD/BYOT Implementation Plan for 8th Grade Georgia Studies

Michelle Colquitt
June 19, 2016

Image credit: Bounds, T. (2012, November 7). BYOD. Retrieved 2016, June 19, from
https://goo.gl/ZntbEr

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2.

My local school district, the Clarke County School District does not have an

explicitly written policy outlining BYOD/BYOT usage in their Board of Education Policy
Manual. I searched for policies in the local counties and Metropolitan Atlanta area for
BYOD/BYOT policies. The Gwinnett County School System has a very well developed
and robust Responsible Use of Electronic Media policy. Gwinnett County also presents
information about BYOD/BYOT in a convenient web-based handout (BYOD FAQs for
students). The Gwinnett County Board of Educations policies and acceptance of
BYOD/BYOT is forward thinking and accepting of technologies.
3.

The Clarke County School District is a Google Apps certified school district.

Given this information, it would be most appropriate for the Clarke County School
District to Implement a Chrome/Google Apps platform for BYOD/BYOT. Since teachers
have received an increased amount of training about Google Apps and Chrome, they
are well versed and more than able to facilitate student learning using Chrome and
Google Apps. Google Apps and Chrome also create an increased amount of
collaboration between students and teachers specifically through the use of apps like
Google Drive and Evernote.
4.

The BYOD/BYOT experience is an area in which student income inequality can

be witnessed easily and apparently, unfortunately. It is the burden of Teachers, Media

Specialists, and the entire education community to provide information regarding free
access to technology to their students in order to attempt to level the playing field.
The first step in leveling the playing field is to present information about free WiFi opportunities in the local community. Within the Athens community, teachers can first
and foremost encourage usage of the Athens Regional Library System branch nearest

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the student. Teachers can encourage usage of the library by providing the students with
information about the hours of the branch nearest to the student. Media Specialists can
work in collaboration to encourage library card signups (ideally this could occur at the
library branch that would most readily serve the student population or there could be a
library representative present during an Open House to sign students up for library
cards).
Information about reduced cost Wi-Fi service could be provided readily to
students and their parents. Everyoneon is a service that provides information about
reduced price internet service. Within the Athens area, the most ready Internet provider
could be AT&T, which offers internet services for as low as $5/month providing that
someone in the household qualifies for SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance
Program) and there is no outstanding debt for AT&T fixed internet service.
Students who are wishing to use BYOD/BYOT within the classroom might not
readily have access to devices. Within the Athens community, Teachers and Media
Specialists could easily have a collaborative program about Free I.T. Athens. Free I.T.
Athens is a nonprofit that provides desktop and laptop computers for incredibly rock
bottom cheap prices (a desktop computer can start as low as $15 for a LINUX based
desktop computer). If students were unable to afford these prices, they can donate
volunteer hours and can earn up to 2 computers per year while gaining valuable
technological skills.
Given how readily that technology is changing, especially with regards to devices
getting old or becoming a bit out of date, Teachers and Media Specialists can attempt to
locate older (first or second generation Kindles for example) devices for their

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classrooms (either for reduced price, for donation, or from their own stockpile). Teachers
and Media Specialists can do their part to ensure that the BYOD/BYOT process will not
create an environment of income inequality.
5.

Students can be grouped in a wide variety of ways during the implementation of

a BYOD/BYOT environment within the classroom. The following scenarios are

examples of projects that can be conducted individually, in a group of two, or in a larger
group.
Individually
Students can complete profiles of important individuals in Georgia History. For
example, a student can complete a profile of Tomochichi through a Web 2.0 tool (such
as a PowToon video).
Groups of Two
A group of two students can be responsible for completing a county profile on
any of Georgias 159 Counties. Students could be asked to create a promotional flyer to
visit an area, such as Lake Hartwell, utilizing a Web 2.0 tool such as Smore.
Larger Groups
Students can be broken down into a larger group (for example a class of 30
students could be broken down into 3 groups of 10 students) for purposes of studying
for examinations. The teacher could utilize a site such as PollEverywhere to gauge
understanding of topics prior to testing (i.e. as a study guide). Teachers could also
create a Jeopardy game and allow students to use their devices while attempting to
find answers for study guide questions.

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6.

There are a wide variety of Android based apps that are appropriate for 8 th Grade

Georgia Studies students. These apps will be broken down by Georgia Studies content,
General History Apps, and Other Helpful Apps.
Georgia Studies Apps
a. Georgia Historical Markers this app provides information about all historical markers
within Georgia. This app would be highly useful for the aforementioned Individual and 2
Group Member projects. Students would be able to find markers by location and also
about historic Georgia figures.
b. Georgia State Parks Outdoors Guide this app will provide further information that
would be essential for the aforementioned 2 Group Member project. Students would be
able to explore parks and nature and this app would provide an extra layer of
information to the project.
c. Georgia Local News this app provides current events and news articles about
locations such as Atlanta, Macon, and Savannah. Students could read up on current
events and be questioned about this during tests/during the opening minutes of class.
General History Apps
d. American Civil War Gazette is an app that outlines the Civil War as if it were
happening today. Students could research battles and Georgias role in the Civil War.
e. History Here is an app that students could utilize to learn more about United States
History through GPS and random search of given locations. This could provide more
information to students for testing and for the 2 Group Member county project.
f. Genius US History Quiz Lite is an app that might be a bit overarching for Middle
School Georgia Studies students but it can reach some of the more advanced students.

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This app can provide some bonus or extra credit questions for exams, so students could
utilize this in the manner of a study guide.
Other Helpful Apps
g. EvernoteStay Organized this app can create a student workspace to store different
websites/articles/other found electronic information. This also allows students to have a
workspace to organize their ideas. This app would be beneficial for every type of project
mentioned.
h. Symbaloo this social bookmarking website allows for students to organize websites
based on different themes. In other words, students could have a Hart County, Georgia,
symbaloo and organize websites for their county project.
i. Student Agenda is an app that would be beneficial for students not only in Georgia
Studies, but also in every class they have. Students are able to organize homework and
tests by date.