Classroom Management in a BYOD Environment

Classroom Management in a BYOD Environment

Questions to ponder:

Is there a way to control what students are looking up? 

How do you successful manage a BYOD classroom?

For years teachers have battled wave after wave of technology and its advancing bombardment on the classroom.  Throughout the 70’s and 80’s teachers fought against the use of calculators.  Complaints echoed from the teacher’s lounge: “It is cheating!” they said.  “Students will become complacent,” reverberated others.  Many would ask, “Why would they even focus on their facts, when the computers do all the work?”  The same battle resumed in the 90’s when computers replaced word processors, and again in the 2000’s when laptops arrived to reinforce learning by making the labs mobile.  But, what most fail to realize is that the battle with technology, is not normally a battle with the technology itself.  Instead, it is a personal battle within the teacher because of their lack of knowledge of the technology or their inability to control the process.  If schools are to reach their full potential, technology needs to be embraced and harnessed to promote learning. Since the first battle is one that takes education and professional development, today’s blog is an attempt to alleviate one of the teachers’ biggest concerns: how to successfully manage a BYOD classroom?

Instead of Fearing the Unknown, Focus on Engagement and Untapped Possibilities.

Again, and again, teachers and administrators often fear the unknown and focus on the negatives. At the administration level, the priorities of safety and student learning must take precedent.  The thought of adding a BYOD policy adds stress to both.  Once again questions arise:

What if they use it inappropriately?

What if they use it to cheat?

What if it becomes a distraction?

However, what if these what ifs were eliminated altogether.  If districts would treat device infractions the same as for typical infractions for inappropriate use, cheating, offensive, violent or sexual content, or even bullying.  Then what makes a device infraction different?  The answer is nothing, after all a hand gesture meant to offend someone should be reprimanded the same as if the words were spoken; it is the same message, just a different form of communication.  A strongly written Internet Safety Policy and Responsible Use Guideline informs students and guardians of expectations and notifies them that there are consequences for not abiding by the policy.  Furthermore, districts and schools are required by law to protect students from online dangers and exposure to obscene, sexual or violent material and should have content control software in place to block improper content.  Now, the fear should begin to reside.  What if, we use the students’ own devices to engage and challenge students like never before?

Classroom Management

The next question to come up on the minds of most teachers’ will be: How do I successfully manage a BYOD classroom?  The answer is easier than you might expect.  In the article Classroom Management in a BYOD Environment , Bethany reminds us that  managing a BYOD classroom is what good teachers do anyway:

·         Establish clear guidelines

If students use their devices inappropriately, those devices can still be confiscated, and those students are still subject to disciplinary action. Students must know this!

·         Provide students with a list of apps (resources) that you think are beneficial for their learning.

·         BE MOBILE! Proximity eliminates most negative behaviors, circulate the classroom.

·         Encourage students to use their devices for educational purposes.

Don’t claim to be an expert of all things, if you don’t know the answer assign a student to look it up and teach the class.  Not only is this educational but empowering.

These are all things that good teachers do daily, the management of a BYOD classroom does not need to be something completely new.  If something comes new up deal with it, but do not let fear of the unknown stop you from providing your students an amazing opportunity.

For more specific ideas and procedures to make a BYOD classroom successful, there are countless sites and professionals that offer proactive suggestions for easier implementation. In the blog,  10 Classroom Management Tips for BYOD, Christina Love gives ten great suggestions that will prevent many future problems.  While all are good, teachers and administrators should look closely at the following three:

1. BYOD Signs

Administrators should post signs around the school to let students know if they can use their device in that space. For areas such as bathrooms and locker rooms, post clearly visible NO DEVICE ZONE signs. Cellphones and other BYOD devices serve no roll in locker rooms, and restrooms and should be prohibited in such areas.

Teachers should post signs on the door to remind students that they have planned activities for personal devices on given days.  This eliminates miscommunication.

Teachers must create a clear visible way to notify students of if a device is permitted for an activity and what degree it may be used. In the video, 10 Tips for Classroom Management the idea of a stoplight was given as a visual: Red-stop all technology, Yellow- restricted to given sites or applications, and Green- open use.  Whatever visual chosen, students need to know what is expected.

 2. Spot Check

This is a quick way to enforce the BYOD policy. Teachers simply, say “Spot Check.”  Then students hold or turn their devices so that their screens face you.  Extra clicking before turning should tell you that the student was probably doing something they were not supposed to.

3.  Screens Down

Most teachers use an attention statement or visual.  When you need students’ attention, say “Screens down.”  This tells the students to turn over the device so that the screen is down or close their laptop lid and focus on you for further instruction.

4.  Observe Body Language

Teachers must learn the difference between what social use on a device looks like compared to educational use. The author tells us to notice that when students are texting friends that it happens in short bursts and involves only a few finger strokes, while often followed by smiles or snickers. Whereas, writing a report tends to involve continuous typing accompanied by a focused expression.  Noticing body language, will help teachers of BYOD classrooms to keep the students engaged in educational content.

With time, personal devices and other technology has infiltrated schools across the nation and will continue to force education to evolve.  BYOD classrooms and schools are here and increasing in numbers.  Today’s students are eager to take on this challenge and help the institution of education progress into what it can be.  The possibilities are truly endless.  Students will never be the same.  As for teachers, nor will they.  Hopefully, some of the information and advice in this blog has reduced your stress level and outlined ideas for continuing good teaching through the current revolution and into the future.

Comment below:

What questions or concerns do you still have? 

What other suggestions do you have to help successfully manage a BYOD classroom?

By Nick Rice