BACK TO SCHOOL
Asheville Christian Academy gave all upper school students iPads through its iConnect program, which just finished its first year. JOEL BARKER/SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT
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DIGITAL I
f you’re a school administrator, news flashes from Raleigh rarely bring good news these days. With budget cuts affecting everything from teacher salaries and school supplies to textbooks and professional development, teachers and administrators must get creative on how to deliver the best education possible to students.
By Betty Lynne Leary WNC Parent contributor
Last spring, Buncombe County Schools launched a new initiative to give public school students access to the latest technology in the classroom. The bring-your-own-device program, known as BYOD, was rolled out in intermediate, middle and high schools for the last two months of the school year. Weaver-
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ville Elementary School was the sole elementary school to participate in the pilot program that allowed students to bring an electronic device, such as an iPad or laptop, into the classroom each day. According to Robert Frisby, a technology specialist with Buncombe County Schools, the goal of BYOD is to enable teachers to use personal devices as an educational tool and to enhance instruction. The pilot program took place during April and May and is now under evaluation. “Surveys were open for responses from students, parents, and staff until the end of June,” Frisby explains. He plans to compile the reContinues on Page 12
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