Prensky is partnering with me!

I am coming to appreciate Prensky’s book more and more with each passing week. He offers a big picture view of technology and education and leaves it to us (his readers) to do some of the work ourselves. He’s the provocateur who makes arguments, suggests questions, and touches lightly on a range of issues. It is these “lightly touched issues” that I find begging for more in-depth research and analysis. “Frustrated” at times that he is not supplying the specificity I want, I am finding myself doing independent research to find answers that satisfy my need to know more. It finally dawned on me this week as I was lamenting the lack of attention he accorded the BYOD/BYOT issue that I began to suspect that his strategy is deliberate. He is partnering with ME. That was an epiphany!

So the aspect of this week’s reading that prompted me to “do independent work” (beyond the reading) is the BYOD/BYOT issue. On its face, this approach seems like the perfect solution to cash-strapped schools. Let students bring their technology! However, understanding that too many students are already stigmatized because they can’t afford 7 for All Mankind jeans or Kobe Bryant shoes, the inevitable question arises: How will these students feel when they are once again in a situation where their economic status defines their social standing in the classroom? Of course, the counter argument is that having students bring their own devices at least provides access to technology, self-esteem issues aside. The most useful discussion I have found (so far) on this topic is an article by Lisa Nielsen entitled, “7 Myths about BYOD Debunked.” She’s surveyed a wide spectrum of research and speaks directly (and with examples) to questions such as: Does BYOD deepen the digital divide? Will BYOD lessons be geared toward the weakest technology? Does BYOD cause students to be distracted? Will teachers need to be experts in the devices students use? I found her article enlightening and helpful in thinking about this issue. Thanks, Prensky, for encouraging me to be an active learner with you!

If you’re interested in Nielsen’s article, here’s a link: http://thejournal.com/Articles/2011/11/09/7-BYOD-Myths.aspx?Page=2&p=1