BYOD, Bring Your Own Device; means the policy of permitting students to bring their personally owned technological mobile devices such as smart phones, tablets and laptops. As technology has become an integral part of education, many educational
institutions are trying to find different technical approaches to enhance the performance of students. Recently, many educational institutions have recognized the importance of BYOD in their classroom.
BYOD is a good solution for educational institutions that are running with low budgets; students can bring their own technologies to classroom, share with those students who don’t have such devices and everyone gets benefits with this approach. Recently we talked about “BYOD Successful Implementations”. Now we are focusing on its importance in special education.
BYOD for special education means the role of BYOD in educating children with special needs. Every student has his own special need and different learning style. Educating children with special needs involve a procedure like individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of processes, adopted equipment and materials, accessible settings and many inventions designed to help such children with special needs achieving success.
Common special needs include challenges with learning, communication challenges, emotional and behavioral disorders, physical disabilities, and developmental disorders. Students with these kinds of special needs are likely to benefit from additional educational services such as different approaches to teaching, use of technology, a specifically adapted teaching area, or resource room. Let’s see how BYOD can benefit students with special needs.
Students can select their own tech through which they are comfortable to learn:
Students are having one technology at home and are forced to work with another at school. But in case of BYOD, students are allowed to bring their own technology; this will help them to work on the same technology at both school and home. They will be more comfortable to learn with it. they can get the help of teachers as well as parents.
Involvement of students will be improved:
Some students will have behavioral and emotional disorders; these students will also come under the category we’re discussing about. They need to get involved in their education. With the help of BYOD, they will have their own homework, apps, videos, games and many things used for learning. This will make them responsible and work towards their success.
Students can download the apps they need:
Students with special needs can download the apps that are designed for their specific need. Let me give you the list of few such apps.
First Then Visual Schedule:
First Then Visual Schedule application is designed for caregivers to provide positive behavior support. For individuals with communication needs, developmental delays, Autism or those who benefit from a structured environment; visual schedules serve to increase independence and lower anxiety during transitions through different activities.
In My Dreams:
In My Dreams uses animation and repetition to promote literacy. Each page has the same sentence structure and reinforces understanding of nouns, verbs and prepositions. “In My Dreams” is an instructional app designed with illustrations that provide language cues. Personalize the app for your child, student or client by adding their photo! “In My Dreams” is an intuitive and non-threatening medium for all learners!
MyTalkTools Mobile Lite:
MyTalkTools Mobile Lite offers ease of use and time-savings in a portable, effective, and cool communication tool. My Talk helps people communicate in a whole new way.
There are many such apps designed to meet the special needs of students. With BYOD approach, students can download the type of app they are comfortable to learn with.
BYOD gives students the opportunity to bring all of their learning resources wherever they go. So the students will have much more time to work at home as well as school. Their learning outcome will surely be increased with BYOD.
This is how BYOD can be useful in special education. Share your personal experiences about BYOD.
