A Study of the Application of a Bring Your Own Device Strategy in an Elementary School

A Study of the Application of a Bring Your Own Device Strategy in an Elementary School by Carol Louise Scholz MA, University of Pittsburgh, 1979 BS, University of Pittsburgh, 1977 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Education and Leadership Walden University August 2016 Abstract Numerous studies have been published on the efficacy of a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) at the U.S. secondary and postsecondary school levels to increase student access to technology. However, there is a lack of data on the efficacy of a BYOD AUP to increase elementary student technology access. The purpose of this descriptive case study was to determine if a BYOD AUP at the U.S. K-5 level would increase students’ access to technology as necessitated by the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). This study was grounded in social transmission and transformative theories. The phenomenon of a northwest suburban elementary school BYOD implementation was examined by documenting the perceptions, attitudes, beliefs, lived experiences, and practices of administrators and teachers. This study used interview and classroom observation of a purposive selection of 3 elementary educators, the principal, and superintendent. Coding of data according to key words lead to analysis according to nodes and themes. Triangulation of multiple data sources and member checking helped to establish the credibility of data. Study findings documented increased access to technology for elementary students, best practices and steps to implementation. Study recommendations for elementary educators and administrators considering BYOD include consensus building, AUP, technology infrastructure, communications, professional development, classroom management, and lesson design to inform the field on elementary BYOD. Study findings facilitate social change by providing BYOD implementation recommendations, increasing elementary student access to technology at a reduced cost to districts and schools.Numerous studies have been published on the efficacy of a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) at the U.S. secondary and postsecondary school levels to increase student access to technology. However, there is a lack of data on the efficacy of a BYOD AUP to increase elementary student technology access. The purpose of this descriptive case study was to determine if a BYOD AUP at the U.S. K-5 level would increase students’ access to technology as necessitated by the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). This study was grounded in social transmission and transformative theories. The phenomenon of a northwest suburban elementary school BYOD implementation was examined by documenting the perceptions, attitudes, beliefs, lived experiences, and practices of administrators and teachers. This study used interview and classroom observation of a purposive selection of 3 elementary educators, the principal, and superintendent. Coding of data according to key words lead to analysis according to nodes and themes. Triangulation of multiple data sources and member checking helped to establish the credibility of data. Study findings documented increased access to technology for elementary students, best practices and steps to implementation. Study recommendations for elementary educators and administrators considering BYOD include consensus building, AUP, technology infrastructure, communications, professional development, classroom management, and lesson design to inform the field on elementary BYOD. Study findings facilitate social change by providing BYOD implementation recommendations, increasing elementary student access to technology at a reduced cost to districts and schools. A Study of the Application of a Bring Your Own Device Strategy in an Elementary School by Carol Louise Scholz MA, University of Pittsburgh, 1979 BS, University of Pittsburgh, 1977 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Education and Leadership Walden University August 2016 Dedication For Ken, my husband, lover of my soul, whose love is my most precious gift. For Mummie, whose love made me who I am. For Daddy who always told me I would be a great teacher! For Erin, my daughter, light of my life. For my grand-daughter Sierra my inspiration to make the world a little better for your future! For my students, from whom I have learned so much, I speak for you and I love you! Acknowledgments Dr. Brown, You are, and have been, my inspiration throughout the past 6 years. I have learned immeasurably from your publications and but most importantly from your tutelage. You have mentored and guided me with such expertise, grace and wit. I deeply appreciate the countless hours you spent reading, rereading and providing feedback on my writing, as my professor for the Knowledge Area Modules and now as the chair of my committee for this dissertation. You transformed me from a “good writer” into a scholar. Your patience and encouragement, as you held the bar high, will never be forgotten. I can only promise I will continue your legacy by paying it forward, modeling the excellent instruction, compassion, unselfish patience and example that you gave me. In every; position I hold, publication I write, class I teach I will forever think of and try to incorporate the myriad of things you taught me not only about academia and scholarship but about life and leadership and how to bring about change. Dr. Brown. I will carry that piece of you with me. It has been a privilege. Dr. Green, Thank you for your willingness to share your expertise and time throughout the endless process of writing. You have been so selfless in sharing ideas, methods and insight, in spite of your own rigorous academic life. I appreciate you hanging in there with me through the many revisions, patiently providing edits and recommendations. Your attention to detail enabled me to successfully design, conduct and publish this study. I am privileged to have had the opportunity learn from your many publications and especially honored to have the opportunity to work with you! To Walden, Thank you for the scholarship! My life has forever changed because of the opportunity you gave me as teacher of the year from Idaho! I know that the professional opportunity and success I experienced as the Digital Learning Coordinator at the Idaho State Department of Education was due to the excellent education I received at Walden University. I have had the opportunity to learn from the very best in the field of education and technology with internationally recognized professors from across the United States! Where else would I have had the opportunity to meet, let alone work with internationally known leaders in the field of educational technology! I am so very proud to say I am a graduate of Walden University because of its focus on creating positive “Social Change” and this is reflected in the professors I have had who all have instilled and reinforced this ideal. What a rare and immeasurably valuable education I have received because of the caliber of professors Walden attracts and their unique capacity to care. I have received a world class education online! To my extraordinary husband who never failed to demonstrate his love. I am so blessed to have you in my life as my partner, lover and friend. Thank you for the many times you were my rock always supporting me and encouraging me at all hours of the day and night. Thank you for listening to me talk endlessly about my doctoral studies and education in general even though your area of expertise and interest is elsewhere you always manage to make me feel my work and thoughts are valued and important. You took care of me so very tenderly when I was disabled and unable to move, your love helped me recover. I will not forget your chivalry and the many smoothies and cups of tea. Your amazing funny bone keeps me laughing in the midst of every arduous trial. Your love is the foundation of every victory and accomplishment. I wake up laughing and go to sleep laughing. You are husband of the year, every year in my eyes and in my heart To my daughter Erin, the light and pride of my life, who’s so very lovely inside and out, you have always been my dearest friend. You never failed to ask me how I was and took the time to listen to me talk about my progress. I want you to know how much your reassurance and encouragement meant. You know just the right thing to say to keep me going. I will not forget the many dinners you made, especially your yummy lasagna and the thoughtful texts in the middle of the night, thoughtful gifts and the hugs. You have made me so very proud and I am honored to be your momma. My deepest appreciation goes to my former principal Jackie Collins at Idaho Arts Charter School. I can’t believe I was fortunate enough to work for you! I received the best leadership, stellar support and encouragement and worked with the best staff in the country. You helped me to be the best teacher I could be! Thank you for nominating me for teacher of the year! Without you I would not have my doctorate! To my colleagues at the Idaho State Department of Education and throughout Idaho who voted for me for Idaho’s Teacher of the Year. You made this doctoral journey at Walden a dream come true. I am honored to have been chosen to represent the teachers of Idaho. I am humbled at the chance to be your voice and am eternally grateful for my scholarship awarded by Walden University because of your faith in me. I thank my colleagues Dr. Carissa Miller and Scott Cook at the Idaho State Department of Education and Dr. Edward Roeber at the Michigan State University who taught me how to be an administrator and whose expertise I have used during my tenure there and throughout the course of my studies. You trusted and supported me to administer gra