WHAT TO LOOK FOR, WHAT TO DO, AND WHEN TO DO IT
5 Pillars of Success
Begin with the affirmative. Rather than what students "shouldn't do" begin with what you can do as the instructor to make sure an environment exists where students can use technology successfully.
Clear Expectations
-Know what you want for your students and yourself
Front-Loading Knowledge and Responsibility
-Teach students how to use the device/app then hold them accountable
Pre-Empting Problems
-Have a plan in place for how you will address off-task behavior
Speed-Up Processes and Transition
-Avoid "down-time"
Increase Engagement
-Emphasize variety, "doing", and "creating"
Begin with the affirmative. Rather than what students "shouldn't do" begin with what you can do as the instructor to make sure an environment exists where students can use technology successfully.
Clear Expectations
-Know what you want for your students and yourself
Front-Loading Knowledge and Responsibility
-Teach students how to use the device/app then hold them accountable
Pre-Empting Problems
-Have a plan in place for how you will address off-task behavior
Speed-Up Processes and Transition
-Avoid "down-time"
Increase Engagement
-Emphasize variety, "doing", and "creating"
Common Problem Behaviors
You will notice that few of the items on this list originate with the technology but are common classroom challenges. An iPad in every hand introduces a new variable that needs to be addressed, but may also accentuate problems that were already present. (This is not an exhaustive list)
Off-Task Behavior
-Playing games and using apps rather than attending to the expected academic task
-Browsing the internet for unrelated information
-Using social-media and disconnecting from the academic task
Distracting Other Students
-Sending messages, notes, images to other students in class
-Accessing or sharing unrelated information or activity during instructional or work time
Easy Answers (wiki mentality)
-Settling for short, immediate answers
-Unwillingness to evaluate validity and quality of information
-Difficulty persisting through challenging problems or questions
Academic Integrity
-Using the device to access or share work or answers
-Camera, voice recorder, internet, allow for the gathering of data but can also
be used to share or receive that data to gain an unfair academic advantage
Poor Digital Citizenship
-Recording and/or distributing images or audio of others without permission
-Communicating rude or inappropriate statements to or about others
-Accessing inappropriate material
Device Dependency
-Wanting or needing to "check" device compulsively
-Unwillingness to put the the device down or away
-Using device for extended and uninterrupted periods of time to "consume" content
(especially video games and Netflix)
You will notice that few of the items on this list originate with the technology but are common classroom challenges. An iPad in every hand introduces a new variable that needs to be addressed, but may also accentuate problems that were already present. (This is not an exhaustive list)
Off-Task Behavior
-Playing games and using apps rather than attending to the expected academic task
-Browsing the internet for unrelated information
-Using social-media and disconnecting from the academic task
Distracting Other Students
-Sending messages, notes, images to other students in class
-Accessing or sharing unrelated information or activity during instructional or work time
Easy Answers (wiki mentality)
-Settling for short, immediate answers
-Unwillingness to evaluate validity and quality of information
-Difficulty persisting through challenging problems or questions
Academic Integrity
-Using the device to access or share work or answers
-Camera, voice recorder, internet, allow for the gathering of data but can also
be used to share or receive that data to gain an unfair academic advantage
Poor Digital Citizenship
-Recording and/or distributing images or audio of others without permission
-Communicating rude or inappropriate statements to or about others
-Accessing inappropriate material
Device Dependency
-Wanting or needing to "check" device compulsively
-Unwillingness to put the the device down or away
-Using device for extended and uninterrupted periods of time to "consume" content
(especially video games and Netflix)
Some Indicators
Some Antidotes
- Efforts to hide the screen
- Less typing and more finger gestures
- Less eye contact with instructor or classmates
- Quick and frequent finger movements
- Lots of swiping side to side or up and down
- Inattentive/zoned/glassy-eyed
- Grabbing the edges of the device in an emotional reaction
- Strong resistance to handing device to instructor
Some Antidotes
- Understand the device and its potential
- Understand the school's acceptable use policies and enforce them
- Do not be afraid to check student devices regularly and randomly
- Do not be afraid to confiscate a device and give it to the Dean of Students
- Communicate technology expectations and be firm with them at the beginning
- Connect the use of the device to specific tasks and activities and when the device does not need to be in use or accessed, Communicate "Power Down and iPads Away"
- Have "tech-free" days or "limited tech" days