Technology in the Classroom: Productivity or Distraction? EC&I 808: Instruction: Theory and Practice By: Jean-Marc Belliveau Victor Thunderchild

What are my current challenges, frustrations, hopes and dream? Distractions of mobile devices in the classroom. Lack of technology available for every student. Large amounts of traffic for wifi area. Laptops take awhile to log in. Hopes & Dreams: Have students use all technology available to them in an efficient and productive manner. Educate students on using their mobile devices as educational tools that they can eventually transfer those skills in the workforce.

My teaching experiences using technology Students start having mobile devices around Grades 4-6. They feel that they need to be able to communicate with their parents at any given moment. Students must learn how to use technology in a productive manner at a young age. Some students can work efficiently without being prompted while others need to be supervised closely and guided. Needs to learn phone etiquette. My teaching experiences using technology The challenges in an Elementary School perspective (Belliveau)

My teaching experiences using technology Student use of social media during class time. Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Use of personal devices in the classroom. Classroom management becomes an issue. Students feel it’s their right to have their phone with them. They need them because mom/dad need to get a hold of them within the hour. Phone etiquette. My teaching experiences using technology The challenges in a High School perspective (Thunderchild)

What does technology look like in your classroom What does technology look like in your classroom? What is your school’s policy? How many laptop/desktop are in your school? Do you have a SMART Board? Do you allow your students to use BYOD? iPads? Android tablets? Chromebook?

Division & School Policies Board Policies No cell phone policies 2.6 Access to computers is a privilege not a right. Vickers Carlton Comprehensive Public High School Students are encouraged to BYOD There is a code of conduct for acceptable mobile device use in classrooms. Board Policies No cell phone policies École Holy Cross No online handbook available

What do I want to improve in my practice? Have students use their time on computers & mobile devices efficiently. Develop the skills to properly use their mobile devices in a productive way. To have students become more efficient in handing in work for class. To have continuity in the process of assessment in my class. Teach students about Digital Citizenship. Using Google Apps for Education (Google Classroom) Use classroom management system such as Apple Classroom that can view what students are doing or restrict the apps.

What do my learners need and want? Equitable access to technology for everyone. Properly use Google Apps for Education on all devices available to them (mobile phone, tablet, laptop) Develop an awareness for valid resources rather than resources that can be changed or opinionated. (Wikipedia) Become responsible digital citizens. Keyboarding skills to be able to input information faster rather than the dreaded 2 finger typing.

What instructional approach or teaching practice intrigues and excites me? Google Classroom (Google Apps for Education) Apps for the classroom: iPad Management: Apple Classroom Push Notifications: Remind (one/two way form of communication) Digital Portfolios: SeeSaw, Classdojo e-Readers: OverDrive Photography: Pixlr App (Android or iOS) Typing: Typing.com

How can I find out more about where this idea came from? Our idea came from our personal teaching challenges in our classrooms. Students are encouraged to use technology in the classroom, however, it may easily become a distraction without proper guidance.

Articles Fomo, stress and sleeplessness: are smartphones bad for students? Schools seek balance for cellphones in class Are they a teaching tool or a distraction? A third of students using 'distracting' classroom iPads for play, not work: study The Impact of Mobile Phone Usage on Student Learning by Jeffrey H. Kuznekoff & Scott Titsworth

What would this look like in practice? Ideally there should be sufficient access to technology in the classroom. However it is not feasible for a School Division to purchase notebooks or tablets for every student. That is why we need to look at possible solutions to provide all students access to technology in an economical way. Classroom set of Chromebooks for students to use in the classroom. Classroom set of iPads, Android tablets or laptops that can be used in the specific class.

What are the possibilities for this theory in my practice? Our Views: Using affordable refurbished laptops from the School Division using an open- source operating system like UBUNTU (Linux) Allowing students to use their BYOD while understanding when it is appropriate to use and only use school related apps. Develop a laptop recycling program where the students work in an extracurricular setting to fix them. Learn what the insides do and learn coding.

CONCLUSION Teachers & Students will become more organized given that they have the right tools in the classroom. Limit the students use of personal devices or control what they can do on their devices. Students need and average of 25 minutes to get back on task after receiving a text message. Create a code of conduct within the classroom. Fortunately, SRSD119 has filters / blocks to time wasting sites like (FaceBook, Instagram, SnapChat, YouTube) which helps! Have only the necessary software for students for a specific assignment. (EX: Student will most likely work on an assignment using a device with a keyboard.)