Few topics are generating more buzz in K–12 planning meetings this spring than the “bring your own device” movement. Teachers and administrators hunger to unleash the educational potential of mobile computing in their classrooms. But shrinking budgets and hard financial choices have kept schools from making the kinds of wholesale investments needed to put a device in the hands of every student.

That reality, though not ideal, has forced educators to consider another possibility: Why not let students use devices they already own as learning tools? In many ways, it makes sense. Most students today already have a mobile device, whether it’s a smartphone, a notebook computer, a tablet, or even a Nintendo DSi. These devices come equipped with mobile broadband and Wi-Fi capabilities, which allow students to tap into the wealth of information offered by the web and Internet-connected applications.

Ed-Tech Magazine details a number of helpful tips for increasing student access with BYOD