Best Practices for Using Classroom Technology With Elementary Students
Let's talk classroom technology. You use it. You may have a love-hate relationship with it.
But, no matter what - classroom technology is here to stay.
So, let's focus on some best practices to have in place so that you can make the most of your digital learning time.
MODEL AND ENFORCE TECHNOLOGY ROUTINES & PROCEDURES:
Since our students have grown up around technology, it's easy to think that they won't need explicit instruction on how to use it. This assumption, however, is deadly!
Using technology with your students can turn your classroom from peaceful into a chaotic scene, leaving you in the fetal position. Nothing is more overwhelming than a classroom full of students all asking you troubleshooting questions at the same time.
Modeling and enforcing specific routines and procedures is a must!
Here are some routines and procedures you might consider teaching:
how to get and return digital devices from storage
behavioral expectations for using digital devices
where and when digital devices can be used
how and who to ask for help when using digital devices
what students are allowed to do on their digital devices
DEMONSTRATE FIRST:
Most classrooms are now equipped with SMARTBoards or whiteboards. These make it easy to demonstrate how to navigate new websites, google classroom tools, and other online activities that students will be completing at at large scale.
This will allow you to address any challenges you anticipate students having once they begin working on the digital devices on their own.
You may want to first do this demonstration while students watch only, and then again when they have the devices in front of them where they can follow along. This is especially helpful for teaching students how to complete an activity or process that they will be repeating over and over throughout the school year.
CREATE PASSWORD CARDS FOR EACH STUDENT:
Many websites and software programs that students will be using require a password. Keep all passwords that students will be using in one place for easy access.
Doing this will eliminate students asking you over and over how to access a certain site or online program.
USE BOOKMARKS, QR CODES & SHORT LINKS:
We've all experienced the frustration of typing in a web address only to find that we've missed a letter or number somewhere in the web address, sending us to a "site not found" error.
This mistake is almost a given if you rely on students to type in web addresses.
This is where bookmarks, QR codes, and short links can help.
If your students use the same website over and over, consider bookmarking it on the browser toolbar so that students can just click on the bookmark shortcut.
If students are using a site for a one-time use, you can create QR codes ( here's a free tool ) to help them access the site quickly.
If you aren't able to scan QR codes on your digital device, you can use a short link service ( like this one ) instead.
Simply put, you copy and paste your long link into a short link service generator, and create a much shorter link that students can easily remember or type in themselves.
HAVE A STUDENT TECH EXPERT:
You are only one person. You can't answer all the questions and help with all the things, all the time. The good news - you don't have to.
Appoint several tech-savy students to be your "Tech Experts" and help answer some basic tech questions from their classmates. Give them a special badge so that other students can easily identify them.
You may need to specially train these students with some trouble-shooting skills, but once you do, they could be a big help (and sanity saver!).
TEACH YOUR STUDENTS KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS:
We've all been there when a student accidentally erases an entire paragraph that they just typed or wants to copy text or an image but doesn't know how to.
Why not teach them a few keyboard shortcuts (like CTRL+Z to undo an action!) to help students work faster and more efficient on their own. Post some common shortcuts in your classroom, or provide students with a quick cheat-sheet to help them memorize these helpful tips.
Common shortcuts to use:
CTRL + C (to copy)
CTRL + V (to paste)
CTRL + Z (undo an action)
CTRL + Y (redo an action
CTRL + mouse scroll (zoom in and out)
CTRL + B (bold text)
But Remember: In all cases, use technology in meaningful ways.