Personalized Technology Classroom Management
The landscape of education has changed. The days of limited personalized technology is quickly going away, even to the point of being encouraged. Personalized technology could include smartphones, tablets, laptops and the continual improvements on wearable technologies like watches and glasses. According to a Pew Research Survey, with support from the National Writing Project and College Board, 73% of teachers say their students are mobile phones both in and out of the classroom (2013). This percentage actually decreases when looking at tablet and other electronic device use. So as students are using more technology in the classroom, and specifically their personal mobile phones, educators much adjust their classroom management to manage the flow and activities in their classroom.
Refer to the analog to manage the digital
The good thing is many of the procedures and tools that are already being done to manage your classroom can be used here as well. The easiest way to look at new classroom management techniques is to ask yourself how it would have been taken care before technology was incorporated. As described in the book Classroom Management In The Digital Age, by Heather Dowd and Patrick Green (2016), look at the “analog equivalent” (p. 23) of the behavior would be, and treat it as such. Most educators have many years of classroom management success, just because a student now has a smartphone to do their work on, does not mean that those years of experience and techniques need to be dropped.Set expectations
Again with any other procedure or activity in the classroom, expectations should be clear, concise and understood by all. This is a good time to incorporate digital citizenship into your lessons. Have a discussion with students on the appropriate and inappropriate use of technology in the classroom. Discuss when, where, and why of the use of technology. Facilitate the discussion toward the expectations you have, but let the students have their say. A sense of ownership can go a long way in the classroom. After the discussion, be sure to post the agreed upon rules and expectations. Post this both on a classroom wall to refer to, and then their digital access point for class assignments (ie. LMS, webpage, blog).
Stoplights
One of the simplest ways to manage tech use in the classroom is a stoplight poster. I think I first saw this posted on Frisco ISD website, but since have seen it at multiple locations. The way the stoplight works is to be clear indicator of technology use that day. Create a poster with red, yellow and green lights on a stoplight. From there attach a clothes pin or other item to one of the three lights. Where the indicator resides, will tell the students at what tech level of use is the day.
Red Light – No technology use that day. Cell phones and tablets should be silent and put away. There should not be a time where they should be out of a student’s bag.
Yellow Light – Technology use at teacher’s discretion. Cell phones and tablets should be silent, but may be out on the desk. It is recommended that it is at the corner of a desk, to be easily visible. When they should be used the teacher will make it clear, and then make it clear when it is not to be used.
Green Light – Free technology use. Student’s will be expected to use the technology for learning. Create a procedure that will let students know when they will need to stop using the technology for instructions or shifting of activities.
The stoplight does not have to be for an entire class day/period, and should be adjusted based on what each classroom activity lends itself to. Again it is creating a procedure and expectation for follow through for any of these lights.
Signals and classwork
As stated above it is the procedures and expectations in a classroom that will make the flow and management easier. Plan methods for attention, shifting activities, and other classroom procedures. Have these planned, known, and practiced will decrease your hair pulling incidences.
Having students flip their tablets and mobile phones down, or partially closing laptops will help with controlling classroom behavior. As any classroom management book or paper will instruct, do not continue with explanations or instruction until everyone’s attention is gotten. Having a phrase like “Apples up” or “3, 2, 1 lids 45, eyes up” will help students recognize that it is time lock their devices, and shift their attention to the teacher or facilitator.
Turning in assignments can also be a new struggle in the digital classroom, but it doesn’t have to be. Using a learning management system (LMS) like Google Classroom, Schoology, or iTunesU will assist in distribution, collection, and returning class assignments. Have a few assignments at the beginning of the year that are just used to practice accessing, creating, and turning in assignments. Make these, and low on the skill level, even something as simple as collecting roll.
Mobile phone caddy and charging
Many times is it just best to have the students devices visible, to not have questions if they are accessible or not. At this point, or as just a standard practice in your classroom, create a mobile phone parking lot. This can be as simple as a over-the-door shoe organizer or a bathroom caddy. To encourage students to use these, include charging cables. A few power strips and some cables are wonderful treat for students that are dependent on a full battery to survive in their life. With that being said, if students have a problem bringing charged devices when you need them, pull the chargers. Make an expectation that their mobile phone or tablet will have a charge to do their school work. Again, in the analog world a student is expected to bring a pen and paper, the same should be true for a charged tablet or phone.
Technology tools help, but learning is the focus
Although personalized learning devices can support and accent the learning, there are times when the learning does not have be electronic. If it is better for students to get some sidewalk chalk, and draw in the parking lot, take them outside. The learning environment is a team effort. As a team, all must work together to be successful. Classroom management does not have to be a struggle with technology but does add an additional layer of planning, just as it can add multiple layers and engagement.
References
Dowd, H., & Green, P. (2016). Classroom management in the digital age. Irvine, CA: EdTech Team Press.
How teachers are using technology at home and in their classrooms. (2013). Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. Retrieved 3 January 2018, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/02/28/how-teachers-are-using-technology-at-home-and-in-their-classrooms-2/
