Well, quite the conversation I have stumbled into here and obviously some very strong opinions. Before I continue please understand that I have no interest in a lengthy battle of repeated arguments, nor am I here to try and change any minds I have just chosen to put across my own experiences. My husband, Gehenna, has been telling me about this thread for awhile and I did come and read a few posts awhile ago but I hadn't the time to respond. Now, there are so many points that have been made that I would love to address one-on-one that it would take me weeks. Plus, with only 6.5 days to go until the end of term I am broken and haven't the energy for a thesis, so I shall share my ideas in condensed points to keep it manageable. 

- I am a teacher.
- I have been teaching for just over 5 years.
- I didn't go straight to teaching, rather worked in the financial sector before turning to teaching as I felt it irresponsible to try and impart knowledge and experiences to children having little of my own.
- I have a personal interest in technology, its development, uses, implications for learning, business, life and communication.
- I teach Year 4 students (they are 8-9 years old).
- Each of our classrooms has 4 HP desktop computers, 1 iMac (running Mountain Lion), a SmartBoard (and projector obviously). 
- Last year we purchased 20 iPad 2's that are shared among the primary school classes (Years 1-6).
- I attended the ULearn conference with a friend to learn more, better my understanding of eLearning, BYOD, technology in schools and other related concepts.
- I spend many hours at night reading about, or exploring new advances in technology (apps, websites, articles, ideas, resources) because I believe it to be important, useful, part of my job and beneficial for my students. I don't mind doing this because it is an interest of mine.
- I have provided support to my colleagues about using iPads effectively and ensured we all have basic trouble shooting skills. We have an IT Team to help if necessary. Mostly the students can fix problems that occur themselves.
- Our Year 2 class trialled BYOD this year as it was a small class. It was a very successful and interesting trial that taught us a lot and let us see where we need to go next; what works and what doesn't; what we like and what we don't.
- Most of our parents responded positively to the idea of the trial and have found it has helped them be more involved with what is happening in the classroom. It is widely acknowledged by education experts that the home-school partnership is crucial to success. This is especially true of students from cultural backgrounds where community is central to their life/upbringing or beliefs.
- Yes I know there are some average, and even terrible teachers out there. I believe if you look in any workplace, or industry you will find this occurs there also. I had a terrible taxi driver the other night...

Speaking only for myself, what I have witnessed in mine and other classrooms, from discussions with teachers around the world and from the extensive reading I have done:
- BYOD is not about students doing 'sit down shut up' work on their own
- Devices are intended to enhance the existing learning, not replace it
- Apps or websites can be used to engage a student with new, or difficult learning. Breaking the ice so to speak, removing and misconceptions or fear they may have around the learning/topic
- For many students these devices aren't new or exciting. They are common place in their home or lives and so it often happens that school is the only place they don't have access to this technology - they don't always understand this
- I've never seen a teacher in a Primary class put kids on an iPad and not know what they are doing - also if your classroom is established on mutual (do you see that...mutual) respect then this will be far less of a problem. In my classroom we had extensive discussions about cyber safety, appropriate use etc and the students developed their own rules, guidelines and consequences for the use of all technology. They want to use it so they follow the rules and keep each other in check for the most part.
- I never allow students to use an app that I haven't already used and know to be useful.
- My students have used apps and then suggested to me other ways we could use them in our learning that I hadn't previously considered, that were excellent.
- Most teachers will do anything to help their children achieve but more importantly to make them WANT to learn.

- Reading, writing and maths are still the central focus of education in Primary Schools. However, it is becoming less common to teach these entirely independently with most schools adopting cross-curricular approaches to learning. This is very effective in offering practical, real life experiences while still engaging these core skills. No, you don't need technology to do this but it certainly makes it a lot easier, more fun, more engaging, more manageable.
- Technology has allowed my class to communicate promptly with students around the world. This has made them look critically at themselves, their lives, their blessings and the needs of others. Don't tell me we could have done this by writing letters - boys don't like writing at the best of times. They really don't want to wait 6 weeks for a response. Email? We're in!
- If I didn't think using devices or technology was beneficial to students or me, I wouldn't do it. I don't have time to waste. I've already worked 7am-9pm every day this week. I don't waste time I don't have to.
- Several kids in our school who demonstrated a real interest have had opportunities to work with older students designing simple flash animations and learning basic coding. One student, slightly older than mine, has designed their own game app which is for sale on the app store.
- My students and I learnt together how to use iBooks author and created our own iBook as culmination of our topic studies. This required them to use their technology skills, many values and virtues, extended literacy, time-management, multi-platform and make critical decisions at a higher level - such as what content do we use, what videos and images from the internet are we 'allowed' to use, what is copyright etc. They didn't just finish it, they are proud of it.
- Often when we use devices in the classroom to create something the students are keen to go home and explore further. They want to use this new knowledge and apply it in other ways. In the realm of extended learning this is significant. 
- Parents have thoroughly enjoyed engaging with the technology with their students.

- Technology isn't going anywhere. Most of the students I teach now will end up in jobs that don't currently exist. All I can do is prepare them to be sensible digital citizens who engage with, and apply knowledge effectively for a given purpose. This will help them be prepared.
- Kids aren't scared of technology. Adults are scared of technology. Give a kid an app and ask them to find 5 ways of using it for learning and they will, and most of them will be good too.
- As well as devices we also use a Learning Management System called Ultranet. This effectively works as our ePortfolios. My students use their iPads to take photos of work they think shows progress, videos that represent success and they choose what they upload to this ePortfolio. They then reflect critically on what they have done and achieved. I can also comment and so can their peers and parents. They get feedback from many people that informs their success and next learning steps. Before Ultranet we did the same thing on PowerPoint and before that on paper. 90% of the paper ones got lost. The PowerPoint ones never resulted in conversations about the learning at home. I am sure some of you, who are parents, take a more active role - good for you. Many don't. Kids need feedback. Kids want to know what they did well. Kids need to know how they need to improve. Kids want you to care.

- I am not a good teacher because I use iPads or other devices. I am a good teacher because I am open-minded to trying things that could enhance the learning and achievement of my students. I am smart enough to retain the ones that work and let go any that don't.
- You can't make any blanket generalisations about 'learning' because each student learns in their own way. Some kids would learn in a darkened bunker because they want to. Others need help and assistance. 

If your child was struggling and lacking confidence in an area of school and a device could make a significant difference to that would you really deny them that?

Those who can teach, teach. Those who don't make generalistic statements about something they don't really understand. Being a student at school doesn't qualify you to know what happens in a classroom from day to day or what it is like to be a teacher just as I would never presume to know what it is really like to be a a hairdresser on their feet all day despite the fact that I am in a salon regularly.

Do I think the BYOD idea needs refinement, though, careful planning and management? Yes. Do I think that for some students it won't be as effective as others? Yes. Am I confident that it has amazing potential to unlock skills, talents and confidence in a wide range of kids? Yes.

Right. I already know hardly anyone will both reading this and that the person who has been prolifically posting (fortunately I have forgotten your username) will have some blithe reply about how my comments don't apply to every school, child or situation. True. But, I am one teacher with a class of students for whom I can only spread myself so far. I will take whatever teaching assistance I can to make me do my job more effectively.