Technology in school
Using technology has become a natural part of our everyday life, but technology requires new ways of teaching and teachers who know how to adapt. Classroom management is more critical to succeeding now that every student has access to a device. One solution could be to control students’ use of technology in school by limiting access to the internet. Many would probably agree that this is not the best solution. Try searching for private networks at your school, and you will see that students have access to private Wi-Fi everywhere. A mobile phone in your pocket can easily be used to create private networks. Many schools have resorted to what they call mobile phone hotels. At our school, we have these mobile phone hotels on the walls in every classroom, and students now know that they have to put their phones there when they enter the classroom. This has turned out to be a good solution, mostly because if they need phones for activities in the classroom, they are allowed to use them. We know that students can be stressed by constant messages from Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram. And at the same time, even if we eliminate the use of mobile phones, students still have access to most of the mentioned social media on their computers. In other words, we need to be aware of how students use technology when we set up our lessons and plan accordingly.
Since I started using technology in my class in 2006, I have changed my mind about how much we should limit the online opportunities for our students. As I now see it, some students will be able to work well with full internet access, and others will not. Also, the problem with limiting internet access is that our students are entering a world filled with temptations and, later, a work environment where they need to master new digital technologies. As teachers, we can help them develop a healthy approach to sensible use in a technology-rich environment. If we are aspiring towards student-centered learning, we need to know that they can focus on learning when they are online. At our school, we experience a change in attitude among our students from the beginning of high school until graduation. The younger the students, the more you have to work with them. Self-control and knowing how you learn with technology is a process. That said, it is essential to point out that what goes on in the classroom is the teacher’s responsibility. If you choose to lecture with a PowerPoint presentation, control your PC with a clicker as you move around in the classroom. Often, a glance at students who are engaging in something else is all that is needed. Should students take notes when listening to the teacher? Do they need to? Many students are good at taking notes; others are easily distracted. This can be clarified by the teacher if you ask to see the students’ notes before they leave class. Students who engage in other activities on their PCs often dim the screen so that their teacher does not see what is going on. Others flip through different setups when the teacher passes by (ALT+TAB). If you are not sure what your students are doing when you are teaching, invite other teachers or administrators into your classroom to observe. This is often the basis for useful discussions, both with the observer and with students.
What goes on in the classroom – using technology – must always be planned and administrated by the teacher, preferably in close dialogue with the students. How are we using technology, when, and why? How is it helping us learn? Those are useful questions.
In my experience, to address these issues, the teacher needs a certain amount of digital competency, and many find it too challenging to keep up in this area. We all know that teachers have many tasks. Teaching is a 24/7 job, and learning new skills can seem daunting. This is where this book is meant to help. The goal is to show that digital tools can free up time and that it is possible to take small steps to get there.
