Engagement and real world learning are aligned with Andover Public School’s Strategic Plan to increase student engagement and productivity, promote a personalized learning environment, and maximize district resources. Andover Public Schools believes that in order to effectively prepare students for life in today’s global world, students must be engaged in learning at school in the same fashion that they are engaged in learning outside of school. 

In order to fully participate in today’s global community, students must also master the 4 C’s which are defined as:

• Communication – sharing thoughts, questions, ideas and solutions
• Collaboration – working together to reach a goal – putting talent, expertise and smarts to work.
• Critical Thinking – looking at problems in a new way, linking learning across subjects and disciplines.
• Creativity – trying new approaches to get things done equals innovation and invention.

The BYOD Program aims to enhance student learning by creating a personalized, student-centered learning environment where every student has a device to use in school and at home. Students leverage these tools in the classroom to learn how to collaborate, analyze data, and be effective members of a team. 

Aligned with the studies from The Partnership for 21st Century Skills and the Horizon Report, the district’s BYOD learning goals are: 

• To increase student engagement and productivity through personalized learning and equal access to technology for all
• To extend and expand learning beyond the school day—anytime, anywhere learning
• To provide authentic and relevant learning experiences
• To promote inclusion by providing opportunities that level the playing field for all children within every classroom
• To foster the 4C’s; collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking and problem solving, as well as digital literacy, and global awareness.

An intended impact of the BYOD Program is to get students to take ownership of their learning and to help them develop skills that are critical for success in today’s workforce, which include digital literacy, problem solving, critical thinking and collaboration. Rather than have the teacher be “the sage on the stage,” educators become learning facilitators and activators, who guide students through their education instead of dictating it to them.

The BYOD Program was designed to help students meet the demands of the twenty-first century. Students will live and work in a world where people use their devices regularly. They need to learn to use technology safely, effectively, ethically and respectfully. Helping students become responsible digital citizens will enhance not only what educators do in the classroom, but provide our students with the skills and experiences that will prepare them for college and career.

The focus of the BYOD Program is not about the devices themselves; it is about changing teaching and learning in the classroom environment. Of course, technology alone will not improve learning, but when combined with the right instruction from skilled staff, amazing things will happen. Students become information producers rather than information consumers.