eQuipped: Supporting BYOD Learning 2013
Introduction
To support students and families in the launch of the BYOD Learning, Northside Christian College
(Alison Stegert) in Brisbane developed eQuipped, a learning program that aims to train students in
safe, healthy, edifying use of media and electronic devices. KingsWay School has purchased this
Biblically-based programme to help with the transition to BYOD in classrooms.
Rationale
Wendell Phillips, an orator from the mid 1800’s, summed up an important principle of the
development of maturity in his maxim, “Responsibility educates.” The wisdom packed into that
short quote undergirds our eQuipped initiative. With the ownership and use of a device come both
responsibility and an opportunity. Indeed, when a young person takes on any new technology, a
wonderful occasion for learning comes with it.
Our intention is to maximise learning for our students in areas that we have had limited input prior
to the launch of BYOD. eQuipped is adding structure to the educational opportunity afforded by the
student’s responsibility for a device.
The eQuipped initiative is about promoting healthy attitudes towards technology, raising awareness
of dangers, and spelling out expectations. The learning areas include the following topics: personal
safety, moderating use, responsibility for and care of the device, and cyber citizenship. The
cornerstone of the program is a module called Guarding the Heart, which springs from our Christian
ethos and the biblical mandate to take care with the things we meditate on.
eQuipped is delivered on two fronts, the L-Plate Programme (done through form class), a series of
classroom Media Skills lessons, and the R-Plate Programme, a self-paced Moodle course consisting
of reading passages and quizzes (done through Biblical Studies, Study, Health and Life Skills classes).
Delivery of the L-Plate Programme
The L-Plate Programme aims to equip Year 5-13 students with skills for healthy, safe and godly
interaction with media. The lessons define the 5 Uses of a device. The intention is to clarify in the
students’ minds the way that one-to-one devices are to be used in an educational setting. Many
students have had iPods and other similar devices that have been used primarily for entertainment
and socialising, so it is essential to redefine the BYOD device as an educational tool. Through this
series of lessons, the students will become aware of boundaries and expectations and build skills.
The Five Uses are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Learning Use
Responsible Use
Balanced Use
Safe Use
Christian (moral) Use
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©Northside Christian College, 2013
eQuipped: Supporting BYOD Learning 2013
Each of the five 30-45-minute lesson plans includes the following elements: learning outcomes, a list
of materials, instructions for activities, discussion guides, a PDF poster stating the particular Use
being addressed, and a set of Learning Tasks that require a parent’s initials.
The L-Plate Programme is designed to carry over beyond classroom theory to everyday application.
Each L-Plate lesson has two to three learning tasks for the students to complete at home. These are
device-related skills, behaviours and habits that we desire students to practise and acquire. For
example, one of the target behaviours presented in the Balanced Use lesson is, “I stop playing games
or chatting online when my parents call me. No arguments.” Students have to discuss and
demonstrate the skill/behaviour to their parent and obtain a signature to indicate the student is
practising it. When all the set tasks for all five lessons have been completed, the student and their
parents have to sign the Cycersafety Agreement and then move on to the R-Plate programme. When
all students in the form class have earned their L’s, the class wins pizza lunch party.
Delivery of the R-Plate Programme
The R-Plate Programme is a self-paced learning package delivered via Moodle. It is designed to serve
an important gate-keeping function. Before students can access the school Wi-Fi, they are obliged to
complete the course. The modules introduce students to vital safety and well-being considerations
and tenets of the Cybersafety Agreement. Most importantly, the students engage with the biblical
concept of guarding the heart as it pertains to media use.
The six modules consist of short reading passages that are followed by quiz sections, all of which are
completed online. The students can do this from home once they have received their Moodle user
name and password. When the suite of modules has been finished satisfactorily, the students have
“earned their R-Plate”1 and their name is added to the list of students permitted to access the school
WiFi.
Because the modules cover aspects of the Cybersafety Agreement, the content of the R-Plate
Programme can be referred to in the disciplinary system when students misuse their devices (or
other media.) Part of the detention process can involve re-completing pertinent modules. For
example, if a student used iMessage to belittle a classmate, s/he would have to revisit Module 5 on
Cyber Citizenship and Module 6 on Digital Reputation. The school has is developing special mediafocussed worksheets to be completed in detention. These reflection sheets reiterate the language
and concepts of the L- and R-Plate Programmes.
1
Moodle has the capacity to create daily lists of names of students who have completed the course
satisfactorily. “Satisfactory” is 97% for Senior School students and 95% for Middle School students. We made
allowances for students with special considerations.
2
©Northside Christian College, 2013
eQuipped: Supporting BYOD Learning 2013
Content Areas of the R-Plate Programme
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Guarding the Heart
Personal Responsibility
Moderation in Use
Personal Safety
Cyber Citizenship
Digital Reputation
The following pages include tables that display the content in the six modules of the Moodle course.
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©Northside Christian College, 2013
eQuipped: Supporting BYOD Learning 2013
Module One: Guarding the Heart
Aim
1
2
3
4
5
Key concepts
Scriptures
Moodle Quiz Tasks
Understand the biblical concept of the Prov. 4:23
heart and why it is important to guard it
Above all else, guard your
heart, for everything you
do flows from it.
The Whys and Hows of Guarding the Prov. 23:7
Heart
As a man thinks in his
heart, so is he….
Deposits into the Vault of the Heart
Luke 6:45
The good man brings good
The heart is like a bank account; you things out of the good
make deposits all the time. Are they good stored in his heart
(edifying, wholesome) or bad (impure, Luke 12:34 Where your
ruinous) deposits
treasure is there your heart
will be also.
The best way to guard the heart is by Ps 119:11
Your word I have hidden in
inputting God’s word
my heart that I might not
“Hiding” God’s word in your heart keeps sin against You
you from sin
Multiple choice
T/F
Multiple choice
T/F
Your future is impacted of what you Philippians 4:7,8
Fill in the blank
devote your present attention to.
“…the peace of God which
surpasses understanding
Choose your focus, you devotion and your will guard your hearts and
words well.
minds through Christ Jesus.
Proverbs 8:12 – Wisdom dwells with
Finally, brethren, whatever
prudence…
things are…”
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©Northside Christian College, 2013
eQuipped: Supporting BYOD Learning 2013
Module Two: Personal Responsibility
Aim
Key concepts
1
A big investment, A big Demonstrate gratitude by taking care of your Multiple choice
responsibility
device.
2
First two steps
Tips
1. Activate your awareness
2. Own your decisions
Moodle Quiz Tasks
T/F
Avoid the “Morning Drama” by taking simple T/F
steps last thing at night and first thing in the
Bedtime Routine and morning.
Morning Routine
Planning ahead:
3
Reducing risks:
4
Decide to keep your device in top nick. Think Fill in the blank
through possible damages and how to avoid
Thinking like a risk them. Think through times when loss could be an
assessor
issue.
Protecting
from
breakage, scratches,
and damage
Module Three: Moderating Your Media Use
Aim
1
2
3
4
Key concepts
Content
Moodle Quiz Tasks
Technology: Slave or Case study of Max Webb, whose computer usage Multiple choice
Master?
is out of balance. Has no idea of how much time
he wastes online. His friend Prudence helps him
get a grip.
A master organises, plans and directs. A slave
obeys, submits, toils.
Developing
Self- Self-control is like a muscle. The more you T/F
Control
exercise it, the stronger it gets.
Similarly, bad habits grow stronger the more you
exercise them.
2
Reasons
why
1) An easy way to avoid uncomfortable T/F
computer use is so
emotions
engrossing
2) Sunk cost fallacy
Practical Tips
motivation
5
Some strategies to manage unpleasant emotional
states
Set goals, identify tasks before using computer
and Positive rewards, negative consequences, Fill in the blank
motivation to stay on top of media use.
©Northside Christian College, 2013
eQuipped: Supporting BYOD Learning 2013
Module Four: Personal Safety
Aim
1
2
3
Key concepts
Tips
Moodle Quiz Tasks
The reality of the
Cyber World – not all
friendly fun and games
Swim between the
flags!
(Rules
are
protective:
follow
them!)
Be aware, be savvy, be smart.
Multiple choice
If you stray beyond the boundaries your parents Multiple choice
and school put in place, you are at greater risk.
Don’t be too clever for your own good. Don’t
tempt temptation. Stay on task and you will be
safe. Bypassing filters, using proxy sites, etc., is an
invitation to trouble.
Feels dodgy? Probably Trust your instincts: When in danger or feeling T/F
uncomfortable, seek help.
is.
Be aware of: personal questions, secretive
requests, offers of gifts, manipulative behaviour,
etc.
Don’t keep it to yourself. Talk to someone.
Who to tell? Parents, School, Police
Module Five: Cyber Citizenship
Aim
Key concepts
1
The Ferals Down the Bad behaviour taints. Graffiti, trash, bad Multiple choice
Street: A Parable
language, needles in parks, etc., affect the sense
of peace and safety of others who just want to
coexist peacefully. Everyone’s behaviour
contributes to the overall sense of peace and
safety in our communities. This includes our
cyber-communities.
2
Good citizenship is… Respect, consideration, courtesy, thinking T/F
Cyber citizenship is…
broadly (beyond one’s own desires and needs),
positive engagement, following through with
obligations.
The golden rule enacted by the vast majority
ensures a good experience for the majority.
3
Do you part: Proper Follow rules for respect and decency
Multiple choice
conduct
Use clean language & be encouraging and
positive
Log off if things turn nasty
4
Tips
Moodle Quiz Tasks
Not only Citizens but For family
Ambassadors too
For KWS – role model to younger students
For Christ and Kingdom purposes
6
Fill in the blank
©Northside Christian College, 2013
eQuipped: Supporting BYOD Learning 2013
Module Six: Digital Reputation
Aim
Key concepts
1
The Worldwide Web Be aware that everything you do and say on the Multiple choice
Never Forgets
internet is filling in a profile of you. Your chats, text
messages, emails, posts and comments, photos,
what sites you frequent, what purchases you make
are all bits of info that fill the picture with
increasing clarity.
2
3
Inadvertent actions—
things that could go
wrong
Just Don’t Do It
Tips
Tasks
Casual posting, joking, tagging, being tagged, T/F
photos without their permission etc.
Careful with tone. Sarcasm is risky.
Don’t post negative (true or untrue) comments
about people at school, work, or church.
Don’t post pictures in uniform or self or others.
Ask before tagging or posting photos of others.
Settle disagreements in person.
Crafting a Positive You can use your online activity to build a solid, T/F
positive presence online.
Digital Reputation
Think Before You Click
4
It is extremely difficult to erase your “footprint” on Fill in the blank
the net. Better to use prudence.
A reputation for a thousand years may depend
upon the conduct of a single moment.
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©Northside Christian College, 2013
eQuipped: Supporting BYOD Learning 2013
Reinforcing Media Skills throughout the School Year
As stated above, the L-Plate Programme is a primer and the R-Plate Programme is a gate-keeper;
each provides a basic introduction to cyber-safety and a way of raising awareness and spelling out
expectations of acceptable use. To reinforce the content throughout the school year, students in
For Media Skills, each R-Plate module is developed further, allowing for interaction, reflection, and
the engagement of high-order thinking skills to consolidate the learning. In addition to set lessons on
cyber-safety and information skills, some lessons are created ad-hoc (prepared by the Life Skills
Coordinator) based on issues that crop up in the classroom or in the news. Examples of ad hoc
lessons include examining changes to Facebook’s privacy settings and breaking news about online
scams. Many of the media skills lessons are adapted from copyrighted material, so the materials
cannot be transferred between schools.
The content presented in the students’ media skills lessons is often reworked into articles for the
eQuipped website2 so the parents in our community can benefit, too.
2
www.e-quipped.com.au
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©Northside Christian College, 2013