Lynmore Primary School

 Strategic Goal - Powerful Learning

Technology plays a large role in our students’ lives and the development of 21st Century citizens.  While our school has invested into institution devices, personal devices can enhance and enrich learning opportunities both at home and at school.  Lynmore School is committed to allowing responsible, learning-centered use of personal devices at school to provide as many pathways to learning as possible for our students.

Why a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) scheme?

Lynmore School has strategically resourced time, money and expertise to upgrade our infrastructure to improve learning opportunities for our students. Globally there is a demand that access to technology and digital competencies keep growing, and as a school we see BYOD as an excellent model for this to happen. A digital device is a 21st century tool for 21st century learning. BYOD is designed to improve the integration and access to technology. We see value in having a device available for each student that they can take home each night, and we believe that having access to technology is essential to more responsive authentic learning experiences. Unfortunately, Lynmore School does not have the financial resourcing to provide a device for all of its students.

It is important to note that we believe that a digital device should only be used in learning where it adds value to the learning, i.e. it improves engagement, creativity, critical thinking, and the application of literacy, maths and science. Students will still be using pens, paper and other forms of technology in their learning!

Benefits:

• anytime anywhere learning
• improved student agency (independence)
• richer learning media
• improved collaboration and articulation of learning
• complementation of school curriculum and enhanced opportunities for applying learning to authentic scenarios
• enhanced digital competencies, including digital citizenship
• improved engagement and student attendance
• improved responsiveness to the pace and style of learning
• teachers grow in capability and confidence with the students

As a school, we have the following goals for the implementation of digital devices and BYOD:

•  iPads will be used to empower learning by:
  • providing real time access to digital and online information
  • developing knowledge, understanding and skills through creativity, critical thinking, caring and collaboration
  • providing opportunities for more authentic social action
  • enhancing the articulation and the quality of communication
  • strengthening the partnership between school and home
• Digital devices will provide the portal for a digital portfolio (Seesaw) that has real time access for parents and whanau.
• Students will begin to develop appropriate ICT and computer science skills, including algorithmic thinking, understanding of binary digits, simple coding and digital citizenship.
• Students become greater agents in their learning and become more responsible in their management and respect for time, equipment and people.