The Idea of Introducing BYOD Model Into the Educational Process

SmartCampus.AU have been engaged in providing the solutions to modernise the computing infrastructure by enhancing the students to participate in bring-your-own-device (BYOD) model. The goal is to establish the BYOD model keeping the cost low and more beneficial. Three options are presented here which cater the requirements of the customer. This document presents the options for the evaluation of the change from learning in the computer labs to bring-your-own-device (BYOD), where students use their own devices.

As such it achieves the following:

• It provides visibility and benefits.
• It provides a guideline for assessment of the vendor investment once implemented.

Solution Requirements

Melbourne Technology University (MTU) has engaged with SmartCampus.AU to evaluate the already existing model where students learn in thee computer labs to bring-your-own-device (BYOD). MTU currently uses the traditional way to use the computers which are installed in their labs.

A key point of discussion during the meeting was to implement the BYOD on the campus keeping in mind the cost, benefits, security and reliability. However, in the view of the detailed requirements analysis we need to provide the frequent firmware updates to mitigate vulnerabilities without manual intervention, incremental options to support network segmentation, maintain compliance and improve security posture. Also, device performance and support of strong encryption standards applied is a key consideration.

Bring-Your-Qwn-Device

The concept of bring-your-own-device is helpful overall in cost cutting and providing the students the freedom with which they can access the university study materials and software’s without even coming to the university.

The university can also provide the laptops on loan to the student’s who doesn’t have the one. This initiative will help the students in learning faster and efficiently. The laptops could be rented on the weekly, monthly or yearly basis with extra student discounts. 

For the hardware part the MTU can use the different Access Point’s so that there will be good connection. The students can connect to these access points and use the campus network to use the services. The students can also access the university services even when they are not around the university with the help of the cloud computing or to use a software can use the Software as a Service (SaaS).

Device Control

For bring-your-own-device (BYOD) the devices can be remotely manages by the university, the system admin has the rights to block/unblock the student. If we are using the SaaS then the software update is rolled out and user can update the software as per their availability. To connect to the university software the student just needs the internet connection on his/her device and the credentials could be used to access the different software’s or the cloud-based services which are hosted by the different services.

Conclusion

In the view of the available options in the market, implementation of the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) should be beneficial in terms of the cost cutting as the maintenance cost of the lab is very much high and maintaining the university computer’s is also not feasible as the future of the students in different work culture also motivates them to bring-your-own-device (BYOD) so that they will have the freedom to access the features of the university on the go and the smartphones being on the boom is very vital part of the learning. However, migration to newer platform would require Professional Services engagement resulting in further investment. Also, consideration must be given to complexity involved in migration activity with phases such as understanding of new technology, review of current implementation and policies, translation of policies to new platform, migration, acceptance tests and monitoring phases.