The high school’s wireless system is up and running, and the building’s Bring Your Own Device policy calls for teachers to ensure students who are using their devices in class are using the district’s network.
Senior Annie Stout, who uses the network through her iPhone, stated, “I think it’s a great idea. It provides an educational tool that students can utilize in their studies.” Nonetheless, Stout said, “In my recent senior meeting with the counselors, they informed us that it was acceptable to use Wi-Fi in the classroom for educational purposes. However, no teacher has made an attempt to enforce it.”
Use of the district wi-fi signal maintains the district’s web filter. Students who use their own data plans can, of course, surf the web without restriction.
Social studies teacher Amanda Ahrens, a member of the faculty committee that developed the BYOD guidelines, said that whether or not she allows her students to use their devices in class “depends on the class and if they are upperclassmen versus underclassmen.”
Ahrens said supervising students’ network use is challenging and that she does so “to the best of my ability, but not as much as I’d like.”
The wi-fi network was “considered for a number of years,” said Kathy Fredrick, district technology director. It is currently only being used at the high school and middle school, but the next step will bring it to Woodbury and the other elementary buildings.
