How to balance digital and Printable activities in the Elementary Classroom

Wondering if you’re overdoing it when it comes to incorporating digital learning in the elementary classroom?

Or whether or not using printable resources is too old-school for the 21st century classroom?

How can teachers strike a healthy balance to provide a well-rounded learning experience that incorporates new technologies with tried-and-true teaching that still utilizes pen and paper?

The truth is - digital and printable, more traditional instruction can live harmoniously…together in the same classroom, even!

It doesn’t need to be an either/or situation. Technology and non-digital resources can coexist - and they should.

Here are a few tips for striking a healthy balance.

FIND WAYS THAT STUDENTS CAN COLLABORATE WITH DIGITAL ACTIVITIES.

We don’t want it to be a case where collaboration and interaction with others goes out the window just because you’re using technology.

For example, can you have digital discussion boards for a novel that you’re reading in class, or topic your studying in a content area?

Students can respond to a question or prompt individually on their device, say in Google Slides, and then have students meet in small groups to further the discussion offline based on the comments from others.

COMBINE DIGITAL LEARNING WITH A SMALL-GROUP SETTING

Another way you can create collaborative digital learning experience is by having students learn or research part of a topic using technology (via video, website, podcast, LINKtivity®. etc..) Then, work in small groups to create a poster to present what they’ve learned to the rest of the class.

ESTABLISH MEDIA-FREE ZONES IN YOUR CLASSROOM

Another tip for balancing teaching and technology is to establish media-free zones in your classroom and times throughout your day that do not include digital devices. Articulate to your students why you are doing this.

Help them to see that you, too, want to have a balance of technology use in the classroom. This models for them that they should have media free times and zones outside their school life as well.

PROVIDE BOTH DIGITAL & NON-DIGITAL LEARNING OPTIONS

Similar to a choice board, provide digital and non digital options for learning. Provide both online resources like websites and videos alongside books, magazines, and paper articles when students are researching a topic.

Not all students will choose the digital option. Some may prefer to open a book or magazine. One is not better than the other, and by providing both, we are showing students that both options are valuable.

COMPLIMENT DIGITAL LEARNING WITH OFFLINE ACTIVITIES

While students work their way through the digital activity, they can write, draw, color, cut and paste, etc… to show their learning on a activity sheet, collage, paper book, and other forms of "hard copy" resources.

These projects can then be shared with their classmates or put on display. They also serve as great reference resources throughout the year.

And remember this: Technology does not replace teaching. Teachers still play a critical role in student learning.