EEND 713 Introduction

Hello Everyone!  My name is Katie Simmons, and I am entering my 4th year at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, IL.  Next year I will be teaching Geometry, Algebra 2, and Honors Precalculus.  Last year 3 of my classes were 1:1, and I loved the opportunities that it opened for my students.  My favorite tools were Desmos and Google Classroom.  I am excited for next year when our whole school will be one to one.

I am completing this course in order to obtain an Instructional Technology Endorsement and a Master's from St. Francis.  These courses as well as courses I have taken through EdTech have been very helpful by allowing me to practice using various technology tools that I can integrate into my classroom in order to enhance instruction.

Feel free to follow me on Twitter: @nvhs_simmons

Classroom Management Shifts in a 1:1 Classroom

This year I had the opportunity to pilot 1:1 with 3 of my 5 classes.  I choose my 3 honors classes because I didn't anticipate having as many problems with the traditionally "more responsible" group of students.  Although I have been very pleased with my students and I have loved the benefits of having immediate access to the internet, I have encounter many challenges that I didn't necessarily anticipate going in to the pilot.

I have come to the realization that as much as we think our students are technologically advanced, and they can "figure it out" on their own, they need our step by step guidance when trying something new.  I plan to devote the second day of school next year to "chromebook"setup.  I want to go through everything step by step, showing them where all my class materials are located and making sure they can access those tools  Just like with content, students  become easily frustrated and shut down when they don't know how to do something.  I never want technology to create an unnecessary level of difficulty and prevent my students from understanding the content or completing an assignment.

I have found that Google Classroom is the best way to integrate technology and organization into my classroom.  Rather than sending out a link through a fancy extension that may or may not be working that day, I simply post it on Google Classroom.  My students are able to access Google Classroom quickly and easily, and it syncs beautifully with their other classes.  Neuqua has consistently stressed consistency across the curriculum, and Google Classroom creates that technological consistency that our students need.

Just like with classroom management in a traditional classroom, setting up a routine in your classroom and building the groundwork over the first couple of days and weeks pays off throughout the year.  Clear expectations about not only how to access the technology but also appropriate usage of the technology (i.e. no eating around the chromebooks, no drawing on the chromebooks, no removing keyboard keys and creating inappropriate sayings, etc.) are essential in a 1:1 classroom.  

As I move into my second year teaching in a 1:1 classroom, my goals include:

• Keeping it SIMPLE!
• When students have to access too many websites, they get lost and give up.  I want to go completely Google Classroom next year.  Rather than giving them access to the drive and a google calendar, I plan to turn my Assignment Sheets into a Hyperdoc that includes anything they need for the course.  All supplemental materials (such as websites) my students need to access will be posted to Google Classroom and labeled using the topics for quick and easy access.  I will then embed the Assignment Sheet into my website for parents to access.
• Promote Digital Citizenship
• Through the technology courses I have taken over the past year, I have learned more and more about Digital Citizenship and the importance of growing a PLN.  It is more important than ever to teach our students to be mindful of their digital footprint; and the impact their actions can have on themselves, others, or on their futures; but also the potential benefits of being able to connect with people they wouldn't normally have access to.  Technology and social media has created several problems with cyberbullying and people being able to access a person's personal information and personal posts, but it is also an amazing way to connect with people around the world.  I hope to teach my students to capitalize on the benefits of social media and being mindful of the lasting impact inappropriate internet activity can have.

Additional Resources:

Classroom Management in the Digital Age

This looks like an awesome book that I have added to my summer reading list.

Ok I want to hear from you!  What challenges do you foresee happening next year, and how do you plan on being proactive in preventing them?  What new classroom management procedures do you plan on adding to your 1:1 classroom next year?  What new technology goals do you have for yourself and for your students?  Feel free to comment below.