In the 21st century, teachers are faced with the great challenge of motivating and teaching courses that are effective. Competing with a great diversity of stimuli and technological advances that are growing rapidly. It is not an easy task to keep a balance in the use of technology within the learning process in an up-to-date way due to high implementation costs. The foregoing requires looking for viable alternatives to keep new technologies updated and integrated into the classroom. There is a trend in education that is already present in the workplace, BYOD (Bring Your Own Device).
Our proposal is to consider the “Bring your own device” or BYOD model (https://essaymap.org/write-my-essay/), translated into Spanish as “Bring your own device”, as a technological resource in the classroom. BYOD is currently used in labor markets and in learning contexts. This strategy in the teaching environment refers to the teacher and specifically states that instead of inhibiting the use of mobile devices in the classroom, such as tablets or cell phones, they integrate them into their teaching methodology, encouraging students to bring them to class to follow the lessons. Currently, there are various educational applications that can help put this educational trend into operation. To mention a few, Google Classroom, Khan Academy, Evernote, Edmodo, Animoto Aurasma, Cam Scanner, OneDirve, Poll Everywhere, Google Sky Map, Quiver.
Among the advantages identified for the students, it is pointed out that the majority have their own devices and it is presumed that they are familiar with the use of them. Some of the practical utilities for the student are: answering surveys, questionnaires, and short tests, creating audiovisual content, creating 3-dimensional models, and making their presentations in a dynamic way. In addition, the student can document their learning through blogs, participating in opinion forums, taking and editing photos, and integrating the use of GPS into geography class.
In relation to the areas of attention when implementing BYOD modality in the classroom, it is mentioned that safety issues cannot be abandoned and the possibility of lack of access among students who do not have this resource. Regarding the management of security and technological infrastructure, it is recommended that a clear policy of use and management should be established where both the teacher and the student are protected. Security is essential when implementing this modality, otherwise, it could be counterproductive. Regarding the accessibility of the devices, we must ensure that students do not have the resources to bring their own devices to the classroom. Both the administration and the teacher must be clear about how this situation would work to guarantee that learning is not affected by lack of resources.
Finally, the BYOD strategy allows us to use existing applications and gives us the possibility of maintaining a technological balance in our classrooms, without having to incur excessive expenses in the purchase of new devices. It is a perfect alternative in cases where institutions do not have the economic capacity to implement highly technological centers.