Howdy!
How are you utilizing technology in your
classroom?
Whether you have a classroom brimming with 28
iPads or you have two stone-age desktops, our job as teachers is to make sure
students know how to best use the technology for learning during Literacy Work
Stations or any other time of the day!
In their book Amplify, Katie Muhtaris and Kristin
Ziemke say, ‘Using technology doesn’t mean that we throw out those strategies
that we’ve found to be successful with students. It’s not the tools - it’s what we do with
them that counts.”
I couldn’t agree more!
When introducing technology in our classrooms, it
is important to teach students digital citizenship, internet safety, and
problem solving skills.
And just like we do for EVERYTHING else at the
beginning of the year, it is important to ‘train the troops’ when it comes to
technology. We spend countless minutes
(hours?) practicing, modeling, and practicing some more... how to get from the rug to the
desks, why shouldn’t we spend time practicing, modeling, and practicing again how to
properly use the technology as well? WE
MUST!
If you have iPads (or tablets/devices) in your
classroom, spend the first week or so with students practicing how to properly
handle the technology.
I like to get
iPads in the hands of kids right away, BUT leave the device OFF!
First, we learn the handle and proper care. And only when students have proven to me they
can be responsible with the (oh-so-precious!) technology, can we turn it
on!
The first week or so of school is spent
practicing how to carry the iPad from the desk to the carpet, how to practice
‘dark and down’ (a phrase I use when I need students attention on me instead of
their device), and how to put away the iPads at the end of our learning
time. We go about our days, just like
normal - with technology in our hands - but the technology isn’t ON just yet.
My students need to prove they can be
respectful of the technology before any on button is pushed!
Once students have the hang of how to properly
handle the devices, we have a magical day of turning on the iPads. (insert rainbow and unicorn emojis)
JUST KIDDING.
It’s less ‘rainbows and unicorns’ and more ‘chicken with its’ head
chopped off’.
You see, students are SMART when it comes to
technology (way smarter than me), but
sometimes the technology at school looks and acts a little different than the
technology at home. Which leaves
students with a lot of questions - and needling a LOT of help.
In order to save myself time later (and sanity
now) I front load some problem-solving tips with my students.
We know that technology is technology. Things will break, stop working, or just
simply act funky. It’s important for us
to help students become independent with technology problem solving skills so
that we can continue doing our thing at the guided reading table or whatever else may be happening!
JUST like we used to teach our students what
button to push at the listening center (cd player or tape player anyone?) we
STILL need those charts but we need them to reflect the current technology.
I take time going over each ‘button’, modeling
when or why you might need to push it and what to do if something doesn’t work.
This saves me so much time (and headaches), if I teach these things up front.
I’ve included a free download for you to teach
from in your classroom as well!
Click HERE to access the Technology Tips freebie!
Did I miss anything? Are there other MUST TEACH buttons for your
little techy learners?
Feel free to add your ideas in the comments
below!
