Laptop Classroom Management

Tips Create a culture of good laptop use. Laptop protocols and routines should be clearly stated and followed (e.g. lids down). Make class agreements. Make sure students know and understand instructional expectations before laptops are used. Think about how your teaching and learning space is arranged. No more sage on the stage. Be online with the students. Be mobile (MBWA) and vary seating arrangements.

Tips Manage note taking. It is very challenging in a wireless environment for students to take good notes on a laptop. Dont try it until you have a good culture of laptop use. Collaborative notes, visible to all, are a good alternative. If students are taking notes individually, ask to see the notes.

Tips Use technology with a purpose. (4 Cs). Cant just add laptops to old lesson plans. (Use your technology integrators!) If you're doing a class activity that involves laptops, use a timer so the students are kept aware of the deadline. Let the students know when and when not to be on their laptops. (You wouldnt let them pull out a book or PSP).

Use Technology with a Purpose (21 st Century Skills). Communication – Prepare students to be effective communicators. Collaboration - Use online tools to discuss ideas, share research, collaborate. Create a community of learners. Creativity - Promote writing, artwork, videos, and combinations of them. Critical thinking – go beyond the thought of the individual; deepen knowledge through interaction.

Questions 1. What are your expectations regarding the use of laptops in your classroom, and how do you communicate your expectations to students? 2. What laptop classroom management strategies work for you? What do you find challenging? 3. How do you monitor what your students are doing on their laptops while they are working?

Questions 4. What classroom configurations have you found to be effective? 5. What ideas do you have for using technology with a purpose? - communication - collaboration, - creativity, - critical thinking