Be Proactive: Setting Clear Guidelines for Ipad Usage in the Classroom{Freebie!}

By teachingspecialthinkers | July 11, 2013 |

I consider myself very blessed to have Ipads for my
classroom. My students absolutely love “playing” on them, and I use them as a
reward for good behavior/work. I will also set up an Ipad station from time to
time if I can find an app or a website that pertains to the lesson. From the
first time I introduced Ipads in my classroom, I knew there had to be clear and
concise guidelines for their usage, or the students would end up losing the privilege
faster than they got it. A lot of my students do not have computers or Ipads at home, so they aren’t exactly sure of norms to follow when using these items.

Here are a few tips on how to set guidelines for Ipads in the classroom:

1. Have clear guidelines for Ipad use.

In the beginning of the year, model and provide students
with step by step directions for Ipad use.

I created this for my classroom and I am sharing it with you for free!

2. Have a designated area for the Ipads.
I always feel so terrible when a student uses tickets to buy Ipad time and the Ipads are all running low on battery or dead. Having a designated spot for students to retrieve and replace Ipads with chargers saves the issue of wasting battery or misplacing the Ipad. Keep the guidelines posted in this area as a reminder of the procedures to follow.


3. Use a timer or Download a timer app!

From the beginning of the year, I established my Ipad
guidelines and this included a time limit. When students sign out the Ipad,
they must also set the timer for 10 minutes. Obviously, this is based on the “honor
code” because I might not be around the Ipad area when they set the timer, but
by putting the fear of losing Ipad privileges if caught incorrectly setting the
time, this usually works for me.

A usage timer app is the perfect way to set a time limit on
Ipad usage for each student. Some of my students with autism have trouble
letting go of the precious Ipad when their time is up. In order to keep up with
time limits and the rest of my class as well, I am going to start using an app
locking device so that when the student’s time is up, they literally cannot do
anything else on the Ipad unless the password is typed in.

Here is the app I downloaded: The Kaboom App Timer
It was 99 cents! {I couldn’t wait to write this! Love that song!}
Here is an article review on the app

Ipads can be such an amazing teaching tool if you set clear and concise rules a the beginning of the year for students to follow!

I am linking up with Miss Eager at The Eager Teacher for her Teaching Talking Tech Linky! Head on over to get more valuable techie tips!

I am also linking up with iTeach 1:1 for her Tune into Technology Linky! This week it’s all about Ipads! So many great ideas!

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Posted in technology, Uncategorized

4 Comments

  1. Kristin Kennedy on July 11, 2013 at 6:29 pm

    I agree that kids need very specific expectations for technology use from the moment they first start using them. I also like to display my expectations in my room. Thanks for sharing your ideas and your cute posters.:)

    Kristin
    iTeach 1:1

  2. Aylin Claahsen on July 11, 2013 at 10:47 pm

    Your blog is so cute- I love your little lightbulb! Those posters are great and so very important to teach before any tech is really used in the classroom. I think I need to set up a "usage timer" for myself…I seem to have a tough time getting away from my phone, ipad, computer… :)
    Thanks so much for linking up with us!
    Aylin
    Learning to the Core

  3. April Walker on July 12, 2013 at 2:50 am

    I love your posters for the rules. So cute.
    ~April Walker
    The Idea Backpack

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