The Connected Classroom

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When choosing a book to focus on for the book study, I was really drawn to Classroom Management in the Digital Age by Heather Dowd and Patrick Green. This book discusses ways to set up, organize, and use digital tools in the classroom. This is something all teachers can use.

I can remember sitting in elementary school and for computer time I would insert a floppy disk into the drive and play Oregon Trail.

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Raise your hand if you remember that! The world of technology has changed dramatically since the days of floppy disks and bulky desktops. While new technology can bring fun ideas and integration it is not without its challenges. It is important for teachers to embrace technology but also utilize it in a way that is efficient, effective, and conducive to learning. In order for students to be successful with technology in the classroom it needs to be managed with procedures, rules, expectations, and creative strategies used by the teacher to engage them and help their learning thrive in a connected classroom. Zilka (2020) states, “children and teenagers today are exposed to a large range of sources and channels of information”. Therefore it is important to establish acceptable use and provide students with skills that foster their creativity and productivity in a safe and effective way. 

My Classroom

Having a set of procedures/routines is important for any classroom. At the beginning of each year I assign students a number for their Chromebook. This helps easily identify who the device belongs to if a problem occurs. We then have a discussion about how to care for our technology. We discuss topics like how to carry them, how to store them, and how to charge them. We go through how to type on them and plug in our headphones properly. First graders are rough on technology so these tips are so important to instill early on and ones that I keep revisiting all year long. According to Dowd and Green (2016), “digital devices are so powerfully versatile, they literally open a whole world of possibilities” (p. 15). Having clear procedures/routines in a digital classroom gives students clear instructions of what can be done with their device at appropriate times and not become distractions. 

As a class we set rules and expectations together. I have some in my pocket that I will always incorporate but I also let them have a voice in it as well. Teachers Pay Teachers has so many resources for technology expectations. You can choose one that works for you or create your own to display visuals as a constant reminder for your students. We also go through how to be good digital citizens. We actually do several mini-lessons on this topic. Making sure students know how to keep themselves safe on the internet is most important. This should be at the top of our priority list when embracing and introducing students to a digital classroom. 

Parents are just as much a part of the classroom as the students. Parents can be your biggest supporter or make your job more difficult.  It is important to make sure that parents feel connected to your classroom. Dowd and Green (2016) state “good communication can give parents a glimpse into the value of using digital devices in the classroom” (p. 63). Communicating your rules and expectations for technology and ways you are using them in the classroom can help support the shared vision you both have for student achievement. With the plethora of technology available it has never been easier to involve and communicate with parents. I have used Instagram, Remind 101, SeeSaw, and Group Me to help get information out to parents quickly. This upcoming year I plan to continue to use Instagram but would also like to incorporate SMORE digital newsletters. It is also my hope to get parents back in the classroom for some face-to-face interaction to develop and foster that partnership that is critical in education. 

Engaging students in technology is easier said than done. After all, they think they are more of an expert than you and in some instances they probably are. Students are constantly using the latest trends in technology so teachers need to stay abreast of the latest technology and look for ways to incorporate it into the classroom. According to Zilka (2020), “the digital environment offers learners an intellectual partner in constructing, processing and presenting knowledge and in activating reflective, cognitive and metacognitive processes, self-regulation, and emotional and differential processes”. Finding resources and utilizing strategies that create buy-in for students is imperative to inspire learning and make it meaningful to them. Having a toolbox full of resources or platforms for brainstorming, creating, collaborating, and publishing work can allow students a choice while not limiting their creativity. It is also important to note that teachers should have a balance of digital and traditional assignments, also known as analog. We are living in a digitized world but balance is key and something we should be modeling for our students. 

Erica Hogge via Google Slides

A 1:1 classroom can be overwhelming and chaotic if you allow it to be. So whether you are a novice or expert teacher, make a plan for using your technology. Establish classroom procedures, set rules and expectations, ensure that you are using engaging strategies and tips, and communicate your vision and plan to parents. A well managed classroom allows for effective and efficient learning that empowers students to be the best version of themselves in the 21st century.

References:

Dowd, H. & Green, P. (2016). Classroom management in the digital age: Effective practices for technology-rich learning spaces. Dowd Green Edu

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Zilka, G. C. (2020). Teenagers connected to digital environments -- what happens when they get to school? Commonalities, similarities and differences from their perspective. Education and Information Technologies, 25(3), 1743–1758