We use the Smart Slides on Chromebooks in my classroom. Smart Slides are engaging interactive slides created with G Suite that helps and encourage the students as they learn concepts and remember older concepts with the looping features.
The way that devices allow you to share materials with your students has never been easier. You do not have to worry about getting copies or forgetting materials.
Many times when teachers or administrators hear the use of 1:1; there are some thoughts “Oh, the kids are just behind the Chromebooks” or ” the kids are on another website.” This passive attitude is not what happens when tech is used correctly in the classroom.
The ability to use tech correctly is deliberate and purposeful. My students do get direct instruction every day. The Slide is shown here as one of the many that have the students interacting and doing something on the slide.
Smart Slides are NOT sitting students in front of the Chromebook for 90 minutes, and the teacher is doing something else.
In my classroom, I get to build relationships with students, have one on one conversations with students about their progress as other students are moving on with their slide decks.
Being purposeful with my contact with my students and engaging every student in a one on one chat every day. I do this to show my students that they matter to me, and in return, they know I want to get to know them.
The truth is, 20 years from today my kids will not matter the Geometry I taught them, they will, however, remember something I said to them to let them be a standout in my class. “Good Job on the field Friday night,” or “I enjoyed your performance in the school production.”
Every teacher hopes their students will remember the content, but in reality, they remember you and not what you teach. I want them to remember how they felt in my class; THEY MATTER.
I want them to see me notice their extracurricular activities AND how they did on the math problem.
I make it a point to conversate with each student. The other students have no idea am I am talking math or something else. I want my students to “buy” into my classroom and set an environment to prepare them for the workforce eventually.
In my 90-minute classes, they can not sit and get for that long. Research shows they can pay attention one minute for their age. I teach 15-17-year-olds, so I have less than 20 minutes to hold their attention.
Our students are digital learners, and my present students do not know what is like not to have google in their pocket. A worksheet doesn’t hold their attention as an interactive Smart Slide deck that engages them, gives them immediate feedback to know they are doing the problem correctly.
My students are more productive with their learning because the lessons allow them to work at their own pace. With the information that is built-in for student feedback, they know if they understand before they “finish” the assignment, and that is a game-changer for the classroom.