Four Reasons BYOD Benefits Students

It's no secret that middle schoolers and, even more so, high schoolers are mobile device users. As a matter of fact, a study shows that 65% of middle schoolers have smartphones – same goes for 80% of high schoolers. Perhaps even more surprisingly is the fact that 52% of middle schoolers have a tablet, a statistic that had doubled over the course of just one year.

To say that mobile devices is becoming more widespread is an understatement, and some teachers admonish the idea of students having them in school. More practical teachers (and parents), however, see the benefits: namely, the bring-your-own-device, or BYOD, lesson structure.

Allowing students to bring their devices to class means that forward-thinking teachers can implement technology such as lesson delivery and performance learning systems. The benefits thus far, at least on the students' end, have shown to be significant.

1.    Students care more for their own property than they do for property that belongs to a school.

Some schools choose to provide their students with laptops or tablets, and that works well, too. But truth be told, BYOD is beneficial because students – and younger-aged students in particular – respect their own property and take on more responsibility for it. In addition, they already know how to use these devices, as opposed to acquiring devices that are new to them. It saves time and, likely, a lot of money.

2.    Students can take advantage of novel and custom learning experiences.

Trying to administer a personalized learning experience in a classroom with 30 students and a traditional lesson plan is extremely time-consuming. In a standard 60-minute class, this means that if the entire class were to be spent giving students personal attention, then each student would only get 2 minutes of attention. It's inefficient. Online education software, on the other hand, can customize the experience as per the student's needs, alerting the instructor if a student seems to be falling behind.

3.    Students are entering the workforce in the 21^st century – might as well start now.

It's a fact that by the time students reach college or their careers, they will have to learn to use mobile devices. It's simply the way technology is heading. Teaching them to use devices, and do so wisely, at a young age will only make them to feel more comfortable in a new environment. It provides a constant that they will be familiar with, and may even generate an interest in technology on a deeper level.

4.    Students are encouraged to engage.

For some students, participating in class is anxiety-inducing. Thus, they avoid speaking up, whether they've got a bright idea or need help. With an interactive learning system, they can engage through their devices, which may help to bring them out of their shells. It also helps the instructor to recognize their strengths and weaknesses more accurately, which benefits everyone in the long run.