Limited Classroom Devices

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by Tracey Brown, Instructional Technology Teacher Specialist

Teachers have waited for years for AACPS to achieve one-to-one with student devices only to be let down by a reality in which students frequently forget devices, bring them uncharged, damaged or otherwise unprepared for use. It can feel like we have time travelled back 5 years when 20 devices for 35 students was the norm. How can we plan technology-rich lessons when the access to devices is hit and miss from one day to the next? Below are suggestions for encouraging students to bring their devices, but also how to utilize tech tools when you have more students in class than the number of devices.

Technology use IS the incentive


While teachers never appreciate the solution, “just design two lessons,” when it comes to technology, this can be easier than it sounds. When you build an online quiz or survey in Brightspace or Google Forms, for example, you can simply print it for students who don’t have their tech. For All Student Response activities like SMART Shout it Out, Nearpod Collaborate, or Padlet, let the tech-ready students respond digitally and pass out sticky notes for students who do not have a device to use. Then display the digital bulletin board alongside the sticky note board. As students who chronically forget their devices watch their more responsible classmates get to engage in digital activities while they resort to pencil and paper versions, you may find that the number of devices making an appearance in the classroom daily increases.

Groups

Plan collaborative activities that allow students to partner up; one without a device and one with. Whether you ultimately end up with groups of 2 or 5, as long as each group has a device, they can accomplish the task. This can work even better if the lesson incorporates low-tech/no-tech tasks with those that require the device. Assigning roles in a group is considered a best-practice to ensure equal contributions. Some common roles are group leader, notetaker, organizer, recorder, researcher and more. Some of these roles could be accomplished on paper, a handheld whiteboard, or by taking turns using the shared device, like the researcher and notetaker. You can also give the group a no-tech assignment that is turned in digitally, like make a poster and submit a picture of it through a Brightspace assignment. Since grading within Brightspace can be adjusted in PowerSchool, it does not matter in the end that only the group leader has submitted the assignment as long as the teacher knows the group members who need to receive credit for the work. This makes it easier for the group to complete and turn in their assignment without access to several devices, but also allows the teacher to access and grade without carting home a pile of posters.

Stations


Use your available devices as stations. This can involve rotating groups of students through the technology so that each station has tech-rich tasks for students to complete, or a mixture of high-tech and low-tech or no-tech stations. Your stations can include Chromebooks, but also your teacher tools like your laptop, the document camera and the SMART board. Activities involving your teacher tech tools might include research in an online database, using QR codes to quickly access chosen content, adding a slide in a collaborative slideshow, working out a problem and submitting a picture using the document camera, or completing a SMART Lumio activity on the SMART board to check their understanding. When sharing Chromebooks, rotations can include any tools students can access quickly and engage with. There are so many great station activities that students could complete in under 15 minutes, including watching a short video, working with manipulatives in the Math Apps, or engaging in a self-check SMART Lumio. You could even have them complete 10 minutes on Typing Club, Legends of Learning, or iReady or a quick Wixie or WeVideo project. Keep in mind you will always need to account for the time students need to log onto the device as login sharing should never be allowed in AACPS.

Diminishing technology use should not be the result of inconsistent access. This only rewards the students who do not bring their necessary school supplies. If you find your tech plans getting derailed by limited devices, hopefully these ideas can inspire you to get creative and keep trying.

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