While 1:1 initiatives blossom across the nation, the BYOT movement seems to be gaining some momentum, especially in progressive minded yet cash-strapped districts who do not see reality in a traditional 1:1 model. Here are 10 advantages to BYOT models:
- Cost. If students already own technology they can use for school, why buy it for them?
- BYOT mirrors college/higher education expectations.
- The perceived tech support nightmare for BYOT is exaggerated. Managing 1000 iPads, that’s a nightmare
- Students already know how to use their own device
- BYOT programs encourage families to invest in technology, which may empower other family members
- Tech budgets can be used to invest in bandwidth and checkout machines for those students who do not have access to BYOT
- Curriculum and materials will gravitate to online-based applications, further allowing universal access, and saving $
- BYOT is differentiated instruction. Students with special needs or preferences can use what works for them
- Mass burnouts seen with large purchases of technology are avoided
- Students tend to take better care of their own devices than they do with school-provided devices.
Certainly, there are many other areas to consider, but I do not believe that 1:1 initiatives are the last word in education.
CLOUDUCATION 
To facilitate BYOT schools must give students and staff easy but secure access to the school’s applications from various devices (including iPads, iPhones, Android devices and Chromebooks), while minimizing the intervention required by IT staff. An ideal solution for such a scenario is Ericom AccessNow, a pure HTML5 RDP client that enables remote users to connect to any RDP host, including Terminal Server (RDS Session Host), physical desktops or VDI virtual desktops – and run their applications and desktops in a browser. AccessNow works natively with Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer (with Chrome Frame plug-in), Firefox and any other browser with HTML5 and WebSockets support.
AccessNow also provides an optional Secure Gateway component enabling external users to securely connect to internal resources using AccessNow, without requiring a VPN.
For more information on Ericom’s solution for BYOT & education, visit:
http://www.ericom.com/AccessNowForEducation.asp?URL_ID=708
Note: I work for Ericom
I would avoid any solution involving vdi, rdp ….it is just not needed…point 7 highlights this well…
As far as IPADs and Androids go….great devices, but somewhat limited in the content that can be created….also have issues with hobbled browsers…..they make a great auxiliary device though…
Macbooks and MS Laptops seem to be the best fit, but would look at devices with SSD drives only….