7 Ways to Deal With Digital Distractions in the Classroom

http://www.edudemic.com/7-ways-deal-digital-distractions/ 

7 Ways to Deal With Digital Distractions in the Classroom

Digital devices seem to be almost everywhere today in education. According to the author of this article, if those devices are embraced wholeheartedly, they become a powerful tool for creating an engaged and individualized education experience. If they are not embraced, they tend to become a distraction rather quickly.  The author goes on to point out that most teachers see them as both, depending on the group in front of them, and the time of the day. One thing that we can all be sure of, is that they are here to stay.

I tend to agree with the opening of this article. Staff members that I know embrace digital devices use them to engage their students and to individualize education. Those staff members that do not, are constantly complaining about the distractions. Again, I see in myself that there are certain times when I good at the ipads in my room as both. The article goes on to say, rather than complain, we need to find ways to deal with distractions. This article lists seven of them

1.    Destroy the multi-tasking myth: Constantly when I catch students doing something they aren't supposed to be doing, I hear “but I was listening.” Sometimes they can even tell me what I was talking about. Just because they hear, and and repeat it right away does not mean they are retaining that information. Yes they can do two things at once, but they probably can’t do two things well.

2.       Don’t ban smart phones: When I first started teaching, this was the policy. When schools ban them outright, it takes away from the students’ ability to personalize the lesson on their own. For example, if the teacher uses a term the students doesn't know, they can look It up quickly, or google something they want more information on.

3.       Break up long digital readings in to short paragraphs. People read differently online. It’s too hard to process long, drawn out paragraphs digitally. Readers want short, chunked up information. If creating something digitally, chunk it up. Admittedly, I am not great about this, mostly because I never really considered it. I will not though.

4.       Use those same distractions to foster learning. If you have a student who loves to text, have them write a story all in texts. If you have an avid gamer, have them create a script for their very own game. Get creative!

5.       Don’t post everything online. Fight the urge to give them detailed lecture notes before the lesson. They will have no reason to pay attention. Sometimes I am guilty of this. I give the students too much. They know they can reference it later, so they do not pay attention. This is a lesson I have had to learn.

6.       Create interesting lessons in the real world. There was a time when we all had to do this. I’m sure we can remember how. Give the students something to do that doesn’t revolve around their devices every now and again.

7.       Teach students to control themselves. Model this for them. When the email notification goes off, fight the urge to check it in front of the students. Teach them that it’s ok to wait. I struggle with this one…a lot. But how can I expect my students not to look, when I look too. So I’m working on it.

The author of this article puts forth some good suggestions and ideas on how to work around a new kind of problem in the education world. There have always been distractions, but never before have they been right at the students’ fingertips. It’s more imperative than ever before that we as educators do what we can to curb those distractions.