7 ways to keep students focused while using technology
1. 7 Ways to Keep
Students Focused While
Using Technology
Adapted from Jeff Dunn at Edudemic
http://www.edudemic.com/2012/05/7-ways-to-keep-students-focused-while-
using-technology/
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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.
5. Make Use of Online
Resources
Teachers can find webinars, videos, podcasts,
photos and industry information about topics
students are interested in
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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