How to Manage Laptops in the Classroom
Laptops are being incorporated into classrooms more and more frequently as the cost of laptops and netbooks fall and as the demands for technological literacy in the world outside the classroom increase. With proper rules and class management techniques, teachers can create an environment in which laptops are effectively and responsibly integrated into the standard curriculum.
Instructions
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Incorporate laptop use slowly at first, using them infrequently. Students will learn to use laptops properly if they are taught that laptops are a privilege and not a right. If the students like using laptops, use the laptops as an incentive to behave in class.
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Choose specific days of the week in which laptops are used. This way, students do not feel entitled to use the laptops whenever they want to.
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Tell students to charge their laptop batteries before class if they bring their own laptops. Do not set up a battery charging station but have a battery charger in case of emergencies.
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If students are using school-owned laptops, give each laptop a number, place these numbers on a sheet and have students sign their names next to the laptop number in order to keep track of who is using which laptop in case there is any inappropriate use.
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Have all the laptop monitors face the instructor so that students are not misusing the laptop or working on assignments from other classes.
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Require that students close their laptop lids when they are supposed to be focusing on the lecture. Students are often easily distracted and laptops can be very engrossing.
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Instruct students to not try to fix their laptops unless laptop repair is a part of the class curriculum. Laptop repair should be the responsibility of the tech department of the school.
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Tips & Warnings
Use keylogging software on school-owned laptops in order to determine if students are misusing their laptops. Also, let the students know that the keylogging software is installed so that they will be deterred from visiting bad websites.
Students who are more skilled with laptops can be put in charge of helping other students understand the laptops.
Do not completely rely on Internet filtering software. Internet filtering software filters out most bad websites, but some websites manage to get through. Keep a close eye on the computer monitors.
Do not expect all students to excel in computer use. Though younger generations have a tendency to pick up computers faster than adults, this is not the case for all children.
