1:1 Systems

Hey all,

I know I had started a series on "making class fun" using Doug Curry's insights and today was supposed to be part 3, but, I believe something needs to be addressed sooner than later and that is the need for 1:1 systems and procedures.  Like all things in the classroom, we must establish systems and norms and teach them to kids before the kids make up their own.  We all know that it is much more difficult to break bad habits once they are ingrained and normalized.  Starting tomorrow, since we are heading back for the last grading period, seems like an excellent time to establish these systems and get good habits part of the culture in your classrooms and hallways.

First of all, great, every kid has a laptop to use during class.  This is a good thing, keep telling yourself that, because it can be a headache if we allow it to become one. 

Here are some ideas:

1:1 Systems

1.  All laptops are put away in backpacks to travel from class to class.  No one should have a laptop in their hands while walking to class.  No one should have a laptop open while walking to class. No one should be working on their laptop while walking to class.  (I saw all three before we left for spring break, including going up the stairs while typing)

- etch out time at the end of class to pack up

2.  At the beginning of class, students should go ahead and take out their laptops out of their backpacks. 

- students could possible work on their warm-ups using their laptops

3.  When the mini-lesson is going on, ALL laptops are closed.  The attention should be on the teacher.  What's great about having laptops is the mini-lesson can be uploaded onto Schoology.  Kids can go back and review notes as needed.  But, during direct teaching, the focus is on the teacher and each other for turn and talks.  Taking notes by hand is actually good for the brain.  During recap, the focus is on recall, so kids are off their machines.

4.  Students should be given opportunities to charge their machines before they leave for lunch.  This is especially true for students who have "A" lunch and they have opportunities to charge during the lunch period. This will help teachers later in the day with only half the kids needing to charge during class, because the other half charged during lunch.  

- have a plan for when a kid needs to charge.  They should know where they can charge and how to get your attention when they need to charge.  

-7th period teachers should remind students to charge overnight

5.  Have a backup plan for students who's laptops are needing repair.  We will still be needing paper copies, just not as many, but we will still need them for kids without a laptop.

6. Have a backup plan for if the internet goes out.  I would say, having two class period worth of papers, probably is a good idea to have handy, if it does go out.  Printing "2 to a page" is a great way to save paper for these kind of copies.  

7.  Encourage kids to purchase headphones.

8.  Discourage playing games at the end of class.  I know, I know, but, the brain is processing the learning that just occurred, don't interfere with it with a game that has a better job at grabbing students attention.  The hippocampus will have a more difficult time converting learning memories if you clog it up with flashing colors that feed the brain the dopamine that comes with playing games.  So make the games ones that help solidify the learning.    

- have students create digital flashcards, or study flash cards of content during down time... Kahoot lets students play against themselves, instead of the mindless maze games I see them playing.  

By planning ahead and thinking about how student laptop use looks, sounds and feels like will save you later down the line.  Establish these systems early, so you don't battle students who are used to bad habits.  

We will continue our Doug Curry series next week...!