2. What is going on?
Schools are increasingly
integrating technology
into the learning
environment.
More and more laptops
and other mobile
devices are presented
in the school setting.
4. Laptops and computer technology have allowed us to
automate routine tasks.
learners benefit greatly from using their laptops to take
notes or from specialized software on their laptops.
Laptops and wireless technologies allow students to
immediately access information relevant to class topics.
Laptops can be used for in-class group work, clicker
questions, to work through interactive web resources, to
contribute to class discussion boards, or even comment on a
lecture backchannel such as a twitter feed.
Let’s not forget
5. What it all comes down to is Classroom
management. It is indispensable.
Managing a classroom of students with laptops is
mostly about managing the students.
Luckily
7. . Do it not because it is a trend. You have to believe in it.
Do you think that technology will make your life easier?
Why am I doing this? And how does this fit me and my
students?
Teachers need to feel in the driver seat.
1.Think through your stance and belief.
8. 2. Focus on key goals for students’
learning
What is a good lesson plan?
Learning goals are to determine the technology use in the
classroom. The presence of laptops in a classroom should
not dictate the nature of lesson design
Use technology to optimize students’ learning.
Use the right tool.
9. Con:Focus on key goals…
LESSON PLAN
Your learning outcomes determines the use of
technology, should not be the other way around.
Spell out exactly what you expect your student do
with their laptops, make sure that any use of laptop in
class is appropriate, and not its own distraction
The idea is that you don't learn "computers" but you
"use" computers to learn something else - the way you
use any other tool.
10. 3.Create a culture of good laptop use
Students’ behaviors: either support or undermine learning
Pay attention to attitudes and norms.
Set classroom Rules and have a Visual Instruction Plan for
laptop use.
Set your expectations
Create consequences of violating rules.
Pick your battles
Consistency
12. Con:3.Create a culture
Most important aspects in classroom
culture:
1.Attention
2.Collaboration
3.Resourcefulness
4.Responsibilities
5.Persistence
13. 4. Landscape your classroom to
serve the learning objectives.
The most popular classroom design.
The arrangement should serve learning
Some arrangements are better than others?
See the students while they are working
- Decide whether the activity need laptop use, or not.
- Distinguish between productive and acceptable
browsing in contrast with diversionary wandering.
15. 5. Improve techniques to keep
students on task
Management by Walking Around
Makes sure you circulate in a way that allows you to
see the most in one view.
Focused assignment: all students work at the same
time.
Signs of “Off task students”:
Eyes are more fixed on the screen
Are typing faster than normal
Their heads remain in a download position than
necessary
16. Cont…
Use timers so that students know that they do not have
all the day.
Expect and Plan activities for those who finish their tasks
earlier than others in the class.
Reward them not punishing them by giving them more
work.
Find student leaders who are natural with laptops and
use them to help with troubleshooting.
Have a back-up plan
Vary instruction as much as often as reasonable.
17. 6. Use a variety of training and
professional development formats
Technology changes at the speed of the light and so
do the needs of the teachers.
You have to update yourself.
18. 7. Improve your technological
skills
Learn how to check HISTORY in Internet Explorer and
Safari, and how to use Undeletable History (Oh My
Web History- MS only.)
19. Thank You
QUESTIONS
Omar Al Noursi
Institute of Applied technology
www:https://sites.google.com/site/ainrocks/
Email: omar.alnousri@iat.ac.ae
Omar_noursi@hotmail.com
Editor's Notes
Thanks for coming. Your presence here
As computers and wireless network devices have become more capable and less expensive, more schools are providing learners with laptops.
The introduction of network computers and the one to one (1:1) learning environment (1:1 refers to having one PC or laptop for every student) in the school have presented immense potentials to engage the minds of learners. But it also presents temptations and distractions unknown to the history of formal education; the potential for computers to subvert teachers’ goals is undeniable and needs to be addressed.
Students cannot learn unless they are paying attention. Laptops compete with teachers for students’ attention.
Most of the time the teacher cannot see what the students are doing on the laptop
Due to the instant access to multiple sources of information, and activities (email, social network, games, calendar), laptops are viewed as strong distraction.
As a result of such an access, students are involved in multitasks (continuous partial attention). This is not conducive to learning or deeper critical or reflective thought.
However, the introduction of network computers and the one to one (1:1) learning environment (1:1 refers to having one PC or laptop for every student) in the school have presented immense potentials to engage the minds of learners. But it also presents temptations and distractions unknown to the history of formal education; the potential for computers to subvert teachers’ goals is undeniable and needs to be addressed.
Dangers and Pitfalls
Students and instructors face sometimes unexpected hazards in using laptops in the classroom. A few of the more obvious ones follow.
1. Surfing the Web. Initially, students surfing the Web in class poses the biggest challenge to using laptops. Fortunately, Web surfing is easy to spot because students are decisively engaged with the computer, but not much keyboard activity is involved. Again, a direct but tactful request or walking around the classroom is generally all it takes to get students back on track.
2. Instant Messaging. Also a big challenge during the first couple of classes, instant messaging is more difficult to detect because it does resemble taking notes. By moving around the class and behind the students, you will keep most students on track. Another technique is to look at which programs or applications are active and which ones have been minimized. Again, a direct but tactful request is generally all it takes to refocus students on class goals.
3. Legitimacy of Web Sites. Using the Internet is one way to spark interest in your topic, but students must not leave class thinking that every Web site visited in class is "scholarly." For example, one Web site offers an applet to help students determine the "sex" of their brain. While useful for generating classroom discussion, that Web applet should not be confused for a scholarly resource. Other sites have similar credibility issues.
4. A Computer Exercise for Everything. The laptop is a tool the instructor can use to facilitate learning, but it should never become the focus of the class. Some topics are better covered in small-group discussions, while others are better brought to life with role-playing techniques such as skits. Sometimes the laptop is not the best teaching and learning tool. The key is to use the most appropriate medium for the material to be covered. The CEO Forum on Education and Technology put it nicely when they concluded from a review of studies that "technology can have the greatest impact when integrated into the curriculum to achieve clear, measurable educational objectives."8
5. Instructor Preparation. Integrating wireless laptop technology requires instructors to learn a new set of skills to be effective. As mentioned earlier, first and foremost, instructors must have a laptop if they are expected to integrate it into classroom practices. Additionally, instructors who see and experience the effective strategies and techniques for integrating laptops into classroom practices will be much more confident and likely to integrate laptops into their classrooms.
Adding laptops with 24/7 internet access to the Learning environment has complicated the matter and added more challenges for the teachers
A laptop classroom requires a repertoire of moves, strategies, tactics, procedures and rigorous planning to make sure that learning occurs.
Students need to feel that laptop use is a privilege and not a right. It is a tool, not a toy.
The goal is to grow young thinkers.
It is not about laptoping the learners, but educating them
The teacher should be clear about the purpose and the intentions
At times, he may set students to work individually , in pairs, or in groups ….. .
Effective classroom will view laptops as just one element within a complete array of tools.
The most popular setting is rows of disks facing the front where the teacher desk is.
Some teachers use software such as SynchronEyes that allows one to view and broadcast to each students’ computer screen.
