Classroom Management with ICT

21st century classroom

According to a report from CDW-G (optional reading only), the vision of a 21st-century classroom had changed in the space of a year since its previous report. It reports that "students, teachers, and IT administrators now peg a 21st-century classroom as one that includes wireless Internet, an interactive whiteboard, and digital content. 

In this video, education experts say digital technologies could transform the way kids learn and participate in their communities.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0xa98cy-Rw

We all know that good teaching with ICT depends primarily on good teachers and sound pedagogy. One perspective of this pedagogy is revealed in Tips for creating a 21st century classroom. As you read this article consider the role of the teacher and the learner in these classrooms.  Click here to do read about some of the key aspects about 21st century learning.

Classroom Management with ICT

Managing classrooms is a very broad topic of study and is often not adequately taught at teacher training institutions. In many cases it is taken to be only about the discipline and control of students. Student behaviour is a factor to contend with, but student management does not necessarily have to directly involve disciplining the individual students.

We will define managing classrooms as managing student learning in the context of:

• time
• space
• technology use
• expectations

Behaviour

This paragraph is provided as an aside to the course because this training  is not about classroom behaviour, but you may find this issue an obstacle to successful teaching and learning. If behavioural issues are restricting your success as a teacher you may like to read The Basics of Good Classroom Management .

The problem is not discipline

Effective teaching is not about effective discipline, but about managing the classroom effectively. This is the assertion made by Harry and Rosemary Wong in their article in the The Gazette, a teachers.net publication. Click here to read why they consider procedures to be so important.

Good management when using ICT

Click here to read Effective Classroom Management Strategies for Technology, a short literature review written by a teacher, Nellie Deutsch. This may help to highlight a few issues that you may not have personally experienced in your classroom integration of ICT.

Shaping Tech for the Classroom

The following readings provide you with glimpses of ICT-enabled classrooms. Take a critical look and, in each case, consider:

• how teaching and learning evolves with ICT in the classroom
• whether ICT is always the best option for learning
• whether ICT is being used appropriately
• the pros and cons of ICT in the classroom

Reading

• Shaping Tech for the Classroom traces a 4-step process of change over time as teachers use ICT. Read the reader comments as well.
  • What issues arise and what are your responses to these?
  • What questions arise in your mind?
  • Have you experienced these phases of change and do you regard this as an accurate reflection of your circumstances?
  • How have you changed your use of ICT over time? 
• How emerging technologies are changing education including two links from that posting:
  • Schools Blend Computers With Classroom Learning - read the responses too
  • The Challenge of Digital Media in the Classroom

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Activity 1 - Experiences with ICT Integration

In the comments section below: 

1.     share your experiences with ICT Integration with the group.

2.    what new ideas do you have for integrating ICT in your classroom.