Digital Distractions in the Classroom: How To Deal With Them
This is a writing sample from Scripted writer Melissa Orozco
While technology has undoubtedly had many positive effects on the world today, its negative impact can’t be simply ignored. One area that technology has negatively impacted is education by causing digital distractions.
Even though the use of laptops and mobile devices is now common in classrooms, studies report that these devices cause distractions for over 65 percent of students, with many admitting to using an average of 21 percent of classroom time on devices for non-academic activities.
So, how can you, as an educator, deal with digital distractions while leveraging the benefits digital devices have on education? Let’s explore some tactics you can adopt.
Set Clear Policies on Device Usage
Early on, like at the beginning of the semester, let your students understand your policies and expectations surrounding the use of digital devices in your classroom. However, instead of making the rules and expecting them to follow them religiously, let them be part of the process of making the rules.
When students feel that you value their opinion, they’re less likely to resist the rules. Therefore, consider having an open discussion with your students and finding common ground where you incorporate both your expectations.
For instance, you can allow students to stream music on their personal devices when working on personal projects, just like you might sometimes need some background music while working.
Gamification
One of the main causes of digital distractions in the classroom is boredom. When students don’t feel engaged, they easily get distracted. Gamification has emerged as a solution for this problem. It is a teaching style that incorporates game design features and concepts in education.
With gamification, learning turns into play. Just like in online games, students can earn points and rewards. This gratification system encourages student motivation and engagement, which is essential for attention and participation in the classroom.
Block Access to Distracting Websites
Even with clear policies on device usage, students will often fall into temptations. A popup notification from a social or gaming website can be all it takes to distract a student.
To deal with this, you can block access to non-educational websites on school-provided devices like laptops and computers. Additionally, you can set restrictions on the classroom WIFI so that students can’t access these websites, even on their personal devices.
Create Device-free Periods
Your classroom shouldn’t always rely on digital devices to learn. That said, you can implement a system that limits device usage for both school-provided and personal for one or two periods during the day or week. This helps you leverage the benefits of good old-fashioned technology-free learning, such as creativity and healthy teacher-student relationships. Additionally, it helps students unplug from a highly technologically driven world, which is essential for increased productivity and better mental health.
Conclusion
Digital devices aren’t going anywhere—in fact, they’re on the verge of becoming a requirement for everyday activities, including education. Sure, digital distractions may be a concern for most educators, but with some of the solutions outlined in this article, you can hit that sweet spot for integrating technology into learning and avoiding its associated pitfalls.
Written by:
