Laptops In My Classroom

What are ways you manage the use of laptops in your classroom and what additional best practice ways might you add?

Regarding this topic, I really liked the activity we completed in class. What a great way for everyone to share their knowledge and best practices! After doing this and reading the other student blogs, I think this is rather repetitive. But here’s what I do:

• Make students responsible. The students get the lap top carts. During class, I keep an eye on the time and give them enough time to save their work and put their lap tops away. Students are selected to monitor the carts and to make sure that all of the lap tops are plugged in. These students must return carts and PLUG them in or bring them to the next classroom on the list.
• Monitor students. While students are working on the laptops, I constantly walk around the room, watching what they are doing, and answering questions.
• Tops down for instruction. When I give instructions, I have the students lower the computer tops. It is the only way that they truly focus on the oral and written instructions. I have them get the computers and log in before the directions are given because sometimes it just takes so long for them to get logged in!
• Get computer and log in as they enter the room. This is a big time saver. Not to repeat myself, but sometimes itjust takes so long for them to get logged in, that I’ve found I save a lot of time if they do this while they are settling down and writing their homework in their agendas.

Amazing Technology: The Mashed Potato Machine @ 7-11!

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