Technology in the Classroom

Technology makes learning fun and engaging in the classroom, but it can also be overwhelming to manage. I’ll be sharing my top classroom management tips for using technology. You’ll learn easy tech tips to implement, such as ways to set clear classroom expectations, creating student tech experts, managing student logins, and more. You’ll be ready to run a smooth technology-driven classroom in no time! All of my free tech templates are just for you too! Just drop your name and personal email address in the contact box at the end of this post and I’ll send them over to you right away into your inbox!

So where do I start?

Tech Tip #1: Set Clear Expectations

Set some rules to keep your students safe, on task, and respectful. The first few weeks of school area always filled with digital citizenship lessons and modeling. LOTS of modeling! I wanted to make sure they were ready to be good digital citizens.

I started out with a digital presentation on five key points on digital citizenship: RESPECT YOURSELF, PROTECT YOURSELF, RESPECT OTHERS,  PROTECT OTHERS, and RESPECT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.

Once we brainstormed what each of those points would look like in our classroom and at home, they signed an agreement to with the five conditions of being a good digital citizen. My students were not only going to have access to their Chromebooks at school, but they were also able to take them home every day like they would take home a textbook. I wanted to make sure my expectations about digital citizenship were CRYSTAL clear.

Tech Tip #2: Make Logging in EASY

It take students a while to start learning how to successfully log onto their devices. Make it simple for them! Have log in cards in case they forget their passwords. I use the ones below to ensure that they can refer to it when they are stuck or need a quick reminder!

Tech Tip #3: Use Students as Tech Experts

Having students be your tech experts is AWESOME! Students love to take ownership of that classroom job and they love to help out their fellow classmates. #winwin I use these tech support badges for my weekly tech helpers. Laminate, cut, and use a lanyard. Simple, yet effective!

Tech Tip #4: Make it Engaging

Using technology doesn’t mean doing worksheets on a digital device instead of on a piece of paper. Make it engaging for kids! This is your chance to integrate relevant and exciting materials to your lesson plans. Below are some of my favorite ways to integrate tech into our classroom learning.

You can create your own customizable Kahoot or use ones that are premade by other educators. Super easy but so much fun for your students. It’s a great way to have students demonstrate their understanding or progress of a concept.

A fun activity your students will love is interviewing their classmate! Students pick a classmate to interview and ask them about all their favorites. Then, they create a graphic organizer (Venn Diagram) to compare and contrast their favorites. Want to make it more techy? You can even have your students take a selfie and add it to the graphic organizer! Just have them use the image tool and select TAKE A SNAPSHOT. It’s a fun and easy way to make getting to know new classmates interactive. Grab my set of graphic organizers here or my digital BTS activities here.

Tech Tip #5: Teach them Shortcuts:

Help your students become tech savvy and proficient by helping them learn all the shortcuts! Once they get the hang of using shortcuts, they’ll become more efficient at using technology. I like to have shortcuts on a bookmark for my students. That way, they can refer to them whenever they need to!

Would you like to grab your set of technology freebies? Just sign up with your name and personal email address in the contact box at the end of this post and I’ll send them over to you right away!

If you’re looking for more ideas on how to get more techy in your classroom, join me in my Technology in the Classroom Facebook group! Just click on the image below to join teachers from all over!