1	Managing a Classroom With Laptops (Laptop Survival)
2	This Presentation Awareness Level eTeam for help and advice Will focus on managing: Workflow Students
3	"The key to good classroom..." The key to good classroom management in a one [laptop] to one [student] school is acknowledging that there is no “magic button” technology solution that will ensure laptops are used appropriately. Traditional discipline is only one part of the puzzle. Effective instruction is even more important. --Irving Independent Schools Website http://www.irvingisd.net/one2one/classroom_management.htm
4	The Major Pieces
5	What is the most important thing?
6	Managing Work Flow 4 options for passing assignments: E-Mail Network folders Moodle * Flash drive/key (external memory)
7	E-Mail Create a distribution list for each of your classes Directions: Distribution Lists; Send and receive assignments using attachments and Group By. Make sure to tell students what to put in the subject line. Directions: Attachments; Group By; Create Personal Folders for each class Directions: Creating Folders
8	Calendar Functions Reminders can be sent to distribution list NOTE: Students must check e-mail for these to pop up
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10	Network Folders Every teacher has folders on the network for workflow on the W: drive. Assignments Folder You place assignments in here Drop box Teachers do not place files here. Students save files here to be turned in to teachers. Once submitted by a student it is not retrievable by that or any student, nor is it even visible by any student. Show students Mailto:email@address Resources i.e. book lists, syllabi, WebQuests, ESS hours, email login procedures Tests Similar to assignments folder with the difference of how rapidly you place in and take out the item because it can be manipulated by the “think smarter, not harder” students.
11	Moodle Moodle is a free version of “Blackboard” which some of you may have used in college A Powerpoint about Moodle is at Moodle for Teachers Be sure to attend a Moodle class at DITA
12	Downloading Textbooks Students can bring any textbooks that have a digital format to their hard drive by going to http://software.dcps.net/ Only texts/programs for which the DCPS school system has rights are located at this website.
13	Where You Can Get Help Your students Your buddy in your department Your eTeam Your STC (School Technology Coordinator) Your technician(s) Your staff developer (Brian Benjamin & Catherine Shelton) Susan Smith
14	Managing Students
15	Managing Your Students Battery Power issue Idea? Do a first period check of battery charge (98% gets a 98% daily grade—20% gets a 20% daily grade) Damage Control -Make sure their cases are always on
16	Starting Class Say to students LOUDLY at the beginning of class and at any transition time: “LAPTOPS CLOSED.” or “LAPTOPS OPEN.” Before class begins, have a “Bell Ringer” or something that makes students prepare their laptops for instant use. Set aside time for students to check email.
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18	Managing Your Students Always have a “backup non-laptop related” lesson plan ready to go. You can have the greatest laptop lesson known to man ready to go, but if the system or internet goes down (which they will), it does you no good.
19	Tricks “Hands – UP” (check student toolbar) If laptops are not closed when the teacher says, take away the laptop Practice commands (Laptop closed, laptops awake, turning desk around, logging into W: drive)
20	Monitoring Students #1 piece of advice kids give other kids is to sit where their computer screen faces AWAY from the teacher Have your most challenging student “drive” the computer that is connected to the projector while you STAND or SIT where you can see every student screen. Interwrite pad allows you to move freely about the room to monitor all students.
21	Know their Tricks ALT – Tab Hidden Task bar Learn their body language
22	Taking Notes If a student insists on having her or his laptop open for taking notes, after you have given the “shut command,” simply say “ok.”
23	Email me Your Notes (surprise) Just make sure you ask him or her to email them at the end of class. Do not let the student know you are going to do this before. Do it casually by surprise at the conclusion of class. Often, the reaction to such a request will be priceless. SURPRISE!
24	Laptop Abuse In the two years of this project, no teacher has broken a screen or battery! Kids have…. Believe it or not, some students will do anything to get out of class. Some will even inflict harm upon their laptops to miss class (get out of an assignment or go to the tech lab).
25	Kids without laptops Help your school decide which desktop computers (labs) could be put in classrooms Put kids on desktop computers in your room MAKE THEM HANDWRITE ASSIGNMENTS, BUT REQUIRE THAT THEY TYPE THEM AT HOME
26	Mixed Classes Sign up for computer lab Sign up for portable lab Do group work Print hard copies of project assignments, moodle, etc.
27	Kids Off-task No Games No IM The teacher that lets his students play games during “down time” hurts everyone. There are plenty of educational and entertaining sites If you cannot catch them, have your vice-principal “spy” on them.
28	Other Monitoring Ideas If you have to be in the front of the room, have the kids turn their desks around when doing a computer exercise Try different desk arrangements to give you a good view of student screens and good traffic flow. Use an Interwrite pad. You are free to move around and still operate your laptop.
29	Technical problems ask 3 other students Ask Teacher Student help desk Technician
30	Lastly, a few tips about Managing Time Large-scale projects should not be assigned for trivial learning experiences (time/benefit ratio) Use movies/Powerpoints/web sites for things that are difficult to teach or difficult to learn Use a Rubric on projects If students need to learn computer skills, point them to Atomic Learning- don’t spend your class time teaching them
31	Managing Time cont. Group projects are easier to manage with computers- When kids are at home, they can collaborate with IM, e-mail (Moms and Dads don’t have to drive them) With Moodle, the project can be broken into parts and each can contribute (WIKI) With movies, every person has a role (cameraman, scriptwriter, narrator, editor) Have students bookmark frequently used websites. Have live links for students in Moodle or emails.
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