byod: developing best practices
BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) is a popular trend across the country in which staff and students have the ability to bring their personal device into the school environment, utilizing the district network. As the cost of personal mobile devices continue to decrease, more and more students will opt to bring their own device to school much as they did with calculators in the past few years.
While BYOD would increase student access and make district supplied devices available to a larger audience of students, there are several critical areas that must be explored and prepared in advance of such an initiative. The most of important of which is that of network security. Infrastructure and systems must be solidly in place to ensure that the data within the network remains secure, and that malware and viruses from non-district devices are identified, contained, and eliminated. It is critical that the district conducts the necessary research and identify best-practices and work with the governing State of Delaware technology authorities, DTI (Delaware Technology and Information Division).
While BYOD would increase student access and make district supplied devices available to a larger audience of students, there are several critical areas that must be explored and prepared in advance of such an initiative. The most of important of which is that of network security. Infrastructure and systems must be solidly in place to ensure that the data within the network remains secure, and that malware and viruses from non-district devices are identified, contained, and eliminated. It is critical that the district conducts the necessary research and identify best-practices and work with the governing State of Delaware technology authorities, DTI (Delaware Technology and Information Division).