Technology can be a great asset in the classroom and it opens up a lot of new opportunities for learning. However, it can also be a huge distraction. If kids have a computer or tablet with them, they can easily get distracted by playing games or searching things online. There is also an issue with them using technology as a crutch because they can easily look up the answers to any questions, so they don’t actually learn that much.
So, does that mean that teachers should steer clear of using technology in the classroom completely? No, because you’re missing out on a lot of golden opportunities. However, you do need to put these strategies in place to manage their use of technology.
Allow For Some Fun
If you let your students do some fun stuff on their computers for a short period, they are more likely to stay engaged for the rest of the lesson. However, if you try to put a blanket ban on any games or fun activities, they’re more likely to get distracted. You can use sites like ABCmouse to find fun games that are also educational. Giving your students some level of freedom to have fun is the best way to manage distractions. Just make sure that you set clear boundaries from the outset.
Only Allow Laptops When Necessary
You won’t be using laptops in every single lesson, but they are very useful for certain things. But when you aren’t using them, they can quickly become a distraction, especially for kids that lack focus. Students may also search the answers to questions, which is counterproductive. So, only allow laptops to be open when you need them and require students to keep them closed when not in use.
Put Security Measures In Place
There is a lot of damaging content online that is unsuitable for children, so it’s important that you have the right security measures in place. Put parental locks on all computers and tablets that are used in the classroom, so you can have full control over what your students are able to access.
Putting security software on computers is also important to prevent viruses and malware. Children are not always aware of online dangers so they may inadvertently download viruses or click on malicious links.
Limit Time Spent Using Technology
Using technology does have its benefits but you can have too much of a good thing. It’s likely that parents have limits on how long their children spend on screens at home and there’s a good reason for that. Creating a healthy balance with technology is so important, and you need to consider that in the classroom too. So, when you are planning lessons, make sure that you don’t use laptops and tablets in every single lesson. Try to limit it to one or two lessons a day at the most.
Technology can help to improve your lessons in a number of ways, but there are some potential downsides. It’s crucial that you use these strategies to manage technology use in the classroom.
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