Students Bringing Own Computers Could Help Offset Costs for School

School board officials are currently in the process of figuring out their finances and trying to find ways to come in under their budget for the 2013-14 school year.

“We start with keeping all of our options open, and then we can narrow it down,” Upper Moreland Superintendent Robert Milrod said. “We’re not adding at this point. Anything we add will mean even more cuts.”

One way the school may offset its technology costs, for example, is the “Bring your own device” initiative where students would be allowed to bring their own computers and cell phones for use on school grounds. This would help alleviate costs of buying/upgrading school computers.

The Lower Moreland School District starting using this system on a “pilot” basis this year. Select teachers are experimenting with the logistics of allowing their students to bring their own technological devices to use in the classrooms.

“Some of it was financially driven,” Lower Moreland Superintendent Marykay Feeley said. “One or two of our board members were saying, “Is this something we want to be looking at?’ as we went from owning our own computers, to leasing our own computers, to exploring if we should have some of our kids bring their own computers.”

Currently, about ¼ of Lower Moreland students are bringing their own laptops and cell phones to school. The school has developed its own separate wireless network and students have to be registered on it in order to use their own devices.

“They are able to get immediate feedback on homework questions or any content they are discussing in class," Lower Moreland Director of Technology Sue Casagrand said.

Some teachers in Lower Moreland have volunteered to be part of the pilot-based program and have seen great results in the first half of the school year. Casagrand said there are a handful of teachers at each level (high school, middle school, elementary) who are participating so far.

For younger students, Pine Road Elementary teachers have designated “Bring Your Own Device” days where they can tailor their lesson plans around that.

“In 2011 we put together a committee because mobile technology had taken such a strong hand in our environment ... Training is minimal because they are savvy with their own devices,” Casagrand said.

The Upper Moreland School Board has until June 30 to formally adopt its budget, where initiatives like this one could be made official.