7 Ways to Keep Students Focused While Using TechnologyAdapted from Jeff Dunn at Edudemichttp://www.edudemic.com

/2012/05/7-ways-to-keep-students-focused-while-using-technology/

Encourage Direct Engagement

Students can interact with materials directly rather than waiting passively to receive information from the teacher

This engagement with the content helps with the recall of key ideas

Ask for More Participation

Online discussions, clickers, desktop sharing and online collaboration can encourage students who typically don’t participate in class discussions.

Rather than distracting students, these tools can provide a reason to focus and think more deeply about their learning

Delve into a Topic

Students learn better when they are engaged in a topic and can make it their own.

Analyzing data, designing presentations, collaborating, and sharing ideas are easier with technology.

Make Use of Online Resources

Teachers can find webinars, videos, podcasts, photos and industry information about topics students are interested in

Assign Research Topics

Have students find the information for an upcoming lesson or activity.

User this time to talk about finding reliable information and synthesizing that information into a usable format (Content Curation)

This leaves students more prepared to answer questions and delve more deeply into a topic

Use Real-World Problems

Students appreciate learning about real issues and situations

They can apply that knowledge to topics they are studying in class

They will make better connections to their learning and see how that learning has context in the real world

Review of They’ve Learned

Using technology tools to review of they have learned over a period of time helps students become more involved in the review and presentation process of the review

The engagement in the review helps students process their learning