Southold students may soon be allowed to use own wireless devices
Southold schools could soon be among the first on the North Fork to allow students to bring in their own portable devices and use the school’s wireless Internet signal for educational purposes.
Southold administrators will visit a school in New Canaan, Conn., where a “bring your own technology” program has been in place for eight years, said Superintendent David Gamberg.
“A wireless environment will enable the staff and students to access the Internet to enhance educational opportunities,” he said.
He added that if students bring their own Internet-connectable devices to school, the district will be able to save money on its technology budget.
He said the district plans to work with Eastern Suffolk BOCES on staff development to enable teachers to use the Internet more effectively in their classrooms.
“They have to use the devices properly in class,” he said of the students. “This is not going to revolutionize or replace what goes on in the classroom. Our students are doing incredible things and this is going to make them more effective as citizens.”
Mr. Gamberg said the district plans to visit the New Canaan school later this spring.
“Our hunch is they’ve already worked out the kinks,” he said.
The school board plans to set the new Internet access policy by the end of this school year.
