Friendswood ISD tests web power through device day

Students of Friendswood ISD were permitted to bring their personal electronic devices to the classroom on April 2 and April 3 to test the bandwidth limits of the technology department.

This experiment was titled BYOD, or Bring Your Own Device Day, during which 4,652 devices accessed the Internet during class hours, helping to test the strength of the district’s infrastructure and give teachers and students an opportunity to experience education differently.

The teachers incorporated the devices into their classes by utilizing electronic math games, Google maps, research, Mad Libs, translation, typing, note taking and more.

Although the allowance of devices in school would not be permanent due to many complicating factors such as having to monitor the students' usage, the test did determine that Friendswood ISD needs additional bandwidth and some network configuration changes.

Executive Director David Jacobson said in the press release, “Students were engaged and excited in the proper instructional setting, but teacher training is definitely needed on how to integrate devices into the curriculum. Classroom management will be a greater challenge, at least in the early stages of development.”

Complications aside, the department does plan to work to incorporate more technology into the classroom.