Wednesday 3 February 2016

Classroom Behaviour Management and Technology

The five elements of classroom management identified by Lim, Pek & Chai (2005) discusses supporting activities for ICT tools for lessons, the role of the teacher, establishing expectations and procedures using ICT and the role of students and technical support. 

Supporting Activities for ICT Tools

Teachers can sometimes assume students are able to effectively complete all tasks using ICT because they are Digital Natives. Just like any other task children need to have a clear understanding of what they need to do to and the skills to successfully complete an activity.  Providing effective explicit teaching of new skills, printed instructions for regular activities as well as some peer assistance could be beneficial to students who are still developing their skills. Teachers therefore need to identify students who need extra support using ICT and model and guide them to develop their confidence and minimize behavioural issues.

Role of Teacher

The teacher's role is transformed through incorporating technology into teaching and learning (Rose & Kadvekar, 2015). Therefore teachers guide their students by becoming facilitators of learning when using ICT in the classroom. This approach is not new to most inquiry based schools but some teachers may need to adjust their management style to accommodate ICT to ensure classroom harmony and task completion. Teachers need to be aware and monitoring the classroom while students are using ICT.  Teacher’s expectations, routines and supervision need to be establish to ensure they are conscious of everything that is happening in the classroom.

Role of Student Helpers 

Student helpers give teachers and extra set of skills and the opportunity to focus on the lessons (Lim, Pek, & Chai, 2005). Assigning students the responsibilty to handle remedial tasks or peer tutor their skills ensures the teachers are able to guide struggling students and considerably improve the student’s technological knowledge.

The Role of Technical Assistants

Technical assistants are not usually found in the classroom during lessons.  The technical assistants that work in our system are behind the scenes purchasing and maintaining hardware and software. 

Establishment of Rules and Procedures

Establishing rules and procedures when using ICT should be explicitly taught before the technology is used.  In the example from Lim, Pek, & Chai (2005) it appears the example discussed was a computer lab situation. It has been more than ten years since this article so most computer labs have now been dismantled with schools opting for more hardware in individual classes. With more technology available the need for rules and procedures is essential to help the teacher manage the lesson.  Teachers using positive reinforcement will increase the student’s positive behaviours (Roblyer & Doering, 2014) during these lessons. Students need to understand there will interruptions to their screen time and the students also need to manage their time to ensure smooth transition between lessons. 
These five elements are incorporated into every lesson in classrooms to create a positive environment for learning and to effectively reach curriculum outcomes.

Interactive Computer Technology

Teaching young children is a behaviour management nightmare for some teachers.  This age group are active, egocentric and always wanting to take center stage. Incorporating interactive computer technology is a way to have all the learners focused and help maintain a productive classroom.  The interactivity has a dual purpose.  Not only does it help manage the group but it also encourages positive peer feedback with the right guidance. I use interactive activities every day in a variety of lessons and contexts. The children love to show everyone how clever they are or become the teacher when they come to the front of the class.

In conclusion I believe if your lessons are challenging and engaging classroom management issues will be minimal and everyone will have a productive experience.

Lim, C. P., Meow , S. P., & Ching , S. C. (2005). Classroom management issues in information and communication technology (ICT)-mediated learning environments: back to the basics. Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia, p391.

Roblyer, M. D., & Doering, A. H. (2014). Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching. Essex: Pearson.

Rose, A., & Kadvekar, S. (2015). ICT (Information And Communication Technologies) Adoption Model For Educational Institutions. Journal of Commerce and Management Thought, 558-570.

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