To successfully manage students and technology tools, it is important to take a close look at the furniture and “stuff” in your classroom. Most of it was designed well before the technology era. Many teachers have come up with creative solutions and have rearranged their classrooms to support technology integration and positive behaviors.
View your classroom as “learning space”. Work with a colleague to brainstorm ideas that will work for your students.
Create learning centers that provide technology-supported activities. Learning centers are not limited to the lower grades. They can be effectively used at the secondary level.
Provide a variety of comfortable seating options, and allow for student movement. Flexible seating arrangements are appropriate at all grade levels and have been effectively used in high school classrooms.
Arrange your classroom so easily circulate among the students and visually scan their activities.
Use a mobile device with an app or spreadsheet to enter information or data regarding your students as you circulate around the room. This is can help you monitor academic progress as well as keep track of students when they are using laptops or other technologies.
Make sure digital tools are well-organized, in good working order, and that your students have been taught how to use them.
