Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigburpsx3/4523460123/
Students carry some powerful technology with them wherever they go, including into the classroom. Because these technologies — such as smartphones — may serve as distractions from what is instructionally happening in the classroom, many faculty are requiring students turn everything off at the start of class. What a loss! Instead, my suggestion is to find ways to use students’ technology in ways that serve the objectives of the class. Here are a few ideas (Note: I suggest you have students in small groups, so that there is the potential for a more balanced distribution of technology…because, even though it may feel like it, not all students are carrying technology):
- In small groups, have students answer a set of challenging questions (or complete a scavenger hunt), allowing them to use their devices to look things up via static sites, or by accessing an online community of practice (e.g., posing a question on Quora or in Twitter or LinkedIn), or by texting/phoning a friend
- In small groups, have students use their technology to locate the most unique response to a question, or a current news item that is related to the topic, or a differing perspective not reflected in the classroom conversation.
- Set up a Twitter account or Twitter tag for the course. Periodically, ask student groups a question and have them respond via Twitter. View responses on your computer, or project them in the room.
- Set up a Twitter account or Twitter tag for the course. Have it up on your computer — or, again, projected — during all classes to enable students to ask questions during lectures.
- Set up a wiki or Google-Doc-like content co-creation page for the topic being covered in class (or throughout the week, depending on the course schedule). Explain to students that the group will collaboratively create a summary of the topic at hand. A few times during the class session, have student groups access the wiki/page and update it to reflect what has been covered and discussed so far. By the end of the class session, the wiki/page can serve as a collaboratively developed set of class notes (for the lecture, discussion, lab, and/or activity/project).
- Create short podcasts (or locate relevant, pre-existing podcasts) related to the topic at hand. Have students download the podcasts to their mobile devices or computers prior to class. In class, present students with an activity (e.g., a case study) that requires them to access a variety of online resources, including one or more of the podcasts you created or made available.
- In small groups, have students search their devices for a song that lyrically reflects what the class is covering, and prepare to share the song and their rationale for how it is related to the current class topic.
- In small groups, have students conduct an Internet search to find a visual/image that represents the topic being discussed, and prepare to share with the class.
If you do not wish to take advantage of students’ technology during class sessions, I have found the following strategies helpful in managing the potential distraction technology can cause:
- Ask students to put technology away, but provide them with opportunities to check messages during class. This is particularly helpful for guardians who need to check on dependents, and for on-call professionals who need to check in with work.
- Ask students who use technology for note-taking to sit in one area of the room so their screens do not serve us distractions for others.
What are some ways you’ve had students use their technology during class sessions? Please share your strategies here. 🙂