Technology+Missteps


 * **Don't** take away technology during a lesson as punishment for behaviors outside of the lesson.
 * You would NEVER tell students that if they talk in the hall you will take away their math books.
 * **Don't** confuse RULES and PROCEDURES.
 * Breaking of rules often has consequences, possibly severe.
 * Rules do not change.
 * If procedures are not working, MAKE NEW PROCEDURES!
 * **Don't** make consequences unreasonable or ridiculously severe.
 * Don't remove technology from a student for minor off task behavior. Again, you don't take the math book away because someone passes notes to a friend.
 * Some classroom behaviors just require a stern teacher look or refocus comment. Know the equivalent with technology.
 * Example - If student's have a frivolous discussion in the comments on your Google Classroom, don't remove them from the Google Class. You don't kick students out of your physical classroom because they talked to a friend. And, in Google Classroom, you can MUTE the student.
 * **Don't** OVERREACT!
 * Your reactions can escalate or deescalate a situation.
 * Never villainize a student who ACCIDENTALLY accesses inappropriate material. Accidents do not have consequences, they have procedures. On purpose...that has consequences in the AUP. Have a plan and follow it.
 * Don't overreact to accidental damage to devices. We can't give a 5 year old a device designed to hold in his hands or place on his lap and not have a few accidents. Have a plan and follow it.
 * **Don't** allow free time fun Googling!
 * If an accidental exposure to inappropriate material happens, be sure you were monitoring and that the activity was standards based.