RFH Brings Personal Electronics to School

By Elaine Van Develde

If you've got it, then "bring it" to school.

So goes Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School's new initiative, aptly dubbed BRING IT! to encourage students to bring to school and use their own electronic devices to enhance their learning experiences with familiar, unencumbered tools.

At one point or another after school starts in September, students will be allowed to bring their personal laptop computers, tablets and other mobile devices and connect to RFH's WiFi for internet access throughout the school, including places outside of the classroom, such as the library, cafeteria and study halls.

The new program will transition in phases, according to grade level, during September, making the senior class the first to implement it beginning the week of Sept. 9. The remainder of the grades, from highest to lowest, will transition in week to week, with the freshman class being included the week of Sept. 30.

Once all are hooked up, however, students will be restricted from connecting to any social media outlets. The intent is to enhance academia only. In addition, the use of the technology in the classroom will be implemented at the discretion of individual teachers.

"We are very excited to move forward with BRING IT!," RFH Principal Tracy Handerhan said in a release. "We are confident that this new opportunity will enable more authentic uses of instructional technology, similar to those found in a college environment."

The familiarity with their own equipment is a plus in enriching the learning experience creatively, RFH Supervisor of Industrial Arts and Technology Chris Alworth said.

"We will be implementing new ideas and applications to enhance the learning experience through our new BRING IT! program," he noted in a release.

The Rumson-Fair Haven Regional School District will require the completion of permission forms for participation in BRING IT! and will not be responsible for lost or stolen items, officials said.