Technology Enhanced Learning: Moving Towards a BYOD Classroom

IpadRecent trends in formal education emphasize integration of digital learning technologies into existing pedagogies to transform teaching and learning. 

Technology-mediated learning provides potentially valuable resources for learners’ academic and social development. However, according to recent research, as the adoption stages of ICTs advance there arise further levels of digital divides in terms of equity of information literacy and learning outcomes.

For the same reasons there are still some unanswered questions around complete digital inclusion for every learner in the context of technology-mediated learning.

For the last three years Janak has been working with the first secondary school in New Zealand to introduce a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy based on their recommendations for using iPads in classrooms. Findings from the first year of investigation into the BYOD project provided insights into the digital divide issues in the context of technology-mediated learning, revealing that issues of equity of access and skills are not as important as indicated by the preliminary study of the BYOD project.

However, some of the findings strengthen the need to extend the digital divide in learning research towards additional fields of enquiry (i.e. learning outcome divide). Therefore, analysis focuses on some of the potential factors that might have an impact on students learning outcomes like (a) Learner-dependent factors (motivation, nature of technology usage), (b) Learning activities in formal spaces and (c) Learning activities in informal spaces.

Research Outputs

  • Adhikari, J. (2011, November). Bridging digital divides in the learning process: Challenges and implications of integrating ICTs. Paper presented at the Doctoral Consortium of the Australasian Conference on Information Systems, Wollongong, Australia

  • Adhikari, J. & Parsons, D. (2012). Bridging digital divides in the learning process: Challenges of integrating ICTs in learning. In M. Brown, M. Hartnett & T. Stewart (Eds.), Future challenges, sustainable futures. Proceedings ascilite Wellington 2012. (pp. 2-4). Retrieved from ascilite.

  • Adhikari, J., Parsons, D., & Mathrani, A. (2012) Bridging digital divides in the learning process: Challenges and implications of integrating ICTs. In M. Specht, M. Sharples & J. Multisilta (Eds.), Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Mobile and Contextual Learning 2012 (pp. 224-227). Retrieved from CEUR.

  • Adhikari, J. (2012) Bridging digital divides beyond access and skills: Integrating ICTs innovatively into the process of learning. Proceedings New Zealand Information Systems Doctoral Conference 2012 (pp. 72-77). Retrieved from New Zealand Information Systems Doctoral Consortium. 

  • Adhikari, J., Parsons, D., & Mathrani, A. (2015, July). Moving towards a bring your own devices classroom: Issues of digital divides in formal learning contexts. Paper presented at the New Zealand Information Systems Doctoral Consortium, Auckland, New Zealand.

  • Parsons, D., & Adhikari, J. (2015) The ups and downs of BYOD: A sociocultural perspective. Paper presented at the 14th European Conference on e-Learning, Hatfield, UK 2015 (pp. 478-486). Retrieved from ResearchGate.

  • Adhikari, J., Mathrani, A. & Parsons, D. (2015) Bring your own devices classroom: Issues of digital divides in teaching and learning contexts. Poster presented at the Australasian
    Conference on Information Systems (ACIS), Australia 2015. Retrieved from Australasian Conference on Information Systems.

  • Parsons, D., & Adhikari, J. (2016) Bring your own device to secondary school: The perceptions of teachers, students and parents. Accepted for The Electronic Journal of e-Learning (EJEL)