B, D, O, and Y

These four letters, independent of one another, merely represent letters of the alphabet or perhaps members of the “used letter board” on Wheel of Fortune. However, when correctly manipulated they create an acronym that represents how you can dramatically change your school culture and climate. I am referring to BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)! Last spring our school took that giant step and adopted the Bring Your Own Device policy for the start of this school year. I applaud my staff and parents for encouraging and implementing this best practice. We’ve dabbled in allowing students to use their own devices during the past few years and today students are engaged in multiple levels of personal application: Cellphones, iPods, iPads, Chromebooks, Kindles, and Nooks. They are being challenged and in return they also challenge us (to take our game to the next level so speak). This is an exciting time to be leading out educational change.

Here’s a sampling of resources, apps, and other avenues that the students can access while in school:

·         Remind 101

·         Instagram

·         Twitter

·         Blogging

·         PicStitch

·         Schoology

·         Google Drive

·         Prezi

·         eBooks

·         Socrative

So, as we continue this journey together I look forward to learning new advancements from my staff, students, and my Professional Learning Network (PLN). Why is application and use of technology and best practices so vital today?  Well, simply stated, we’re preparing students today for jobs that do not even exist. As a result we must engage them in the every changing features of technology and academic support to best prepare them to ‘boldly go where no one has gone before.”