A new year is upon us. And that means technology teams, instructional coaches, and teachers alike are gearing up for another semester of technology-enabled learning. As you evaluate the tools that can be most impactful, don’t overlook classroom management software. It’s a game changer for teachers, as well as those who support them.
Even technology-averse teachers love classroom management software. But how can that be? And could your teachers benefit as well?
Read on to learn about classroom management software and see what educators and technologists alike have to say about its positive impact.
How Classroom Management Software Helps Teachers Defeat Distractions and Keep Students Engaged in Learning
The modern classroom is a far cry from the traditional chalk-and-talk setup. With students using laptops, tablets, or Chromebooks, teachers face new challenges in keeping their classes focused and engaged. Classroom management software addresses these challenges head-on, giving educators the tools they need to lead technology-enabled classes with confidence.
Gives Teachers Visibility of Students’ Screens
One of the primary reasons teachers appreciate classroom management software is the unprecedented visibility it provides. This visibility allows teachers to:
- See students’ screens in real-time
- Easily spot students who are distracted and off-task
- Gain greater visibility into their students’ progress
- Message off-task students discreetly to redirect them back to the lesson
Craig Larsen, Information Systems Administrator at Eastern Carver County Schools (ECCS), shares, “Teachers overwhelmingly tell us classroom management software has been a game changer. They love seeing what their students are doing and helping anyone who is having problems or not engaging with the material.”
Helps Teachers Remove Distractions to Keep Students Focused on Instruction
Keeping students focused in a digital environment can be challenging. Digital devices, while invaluable for learning, can also be significant sources of distraction. Classroom management software gives teachers the ability to:
- Block distracting websites or applications during class time
- Remotely close distracting content and browser tabs on students’ devices
- Lock students’ screens when full attention is needed
Emma Ferris, Digital Learning Lead and a teacher herself at Tring School, shares, “I can’t keep an eye on 30 students at once; I don’t actually have eyes in the back of my head. So making sure that students were on task and doing what they’re supposed to be doing was my biggest challenge. Classroom management software lets me monitor what everyone’s doing all of the time.”
Streamlines Delivery of Digital Lessons so Teachers Can Do What They Do Best
Classroom management software like Securly Classroom provides teacher-friendly features that help teachers use technology to their advantage. Teachers realize that technology can help them be more effective when they’re able to do things like:
- Push relevant class resources directly to students’ devices
- Create their own block/allow site lists to control content for their classes
- Share screens and chat with the whole class or individual students
Krynica Drake, an Education Technology Specialist at Atlanta Public Schools, shares, “Securly Classroom is an amazing tool, and we’re all quite thankful for it. The teachers are really on board with it! Being able to monitor how students are doing supports the teachers in doing what they do best: focusing on delivering meaningful learning.” Read more of Atlanta Public Schools’ story.
Gain Data and Insight into Students’ Learning and Progress
Classroom management tools can provide teachers with valuable data on student activity and engagement. This information helps teachers:
- Identify students who are falling behind
- Understand how students are using online resources
- Share concrete data with parents about their child’s in-class activities
Eric Benedict, an instructional technology coach at Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD), says, “Lots of teachers use it as a data collecting tool. They can see the report after the class and use what they find to have a conversation with students about appropriate use of online resources.” Learn how MMSD uses edtech to their advantage.
Krynica Drake of Atlanta Public Schools also emphasizes the value of the insight classroom management software provides: “When there’s conversation and collaboration with the students and those students are on task, that provides data for teachers to share with parents. It’s one of those features that’s had a real impact.”
The Benefits of Classroom Management Software Don’t End with Teachers Either
Before implementing classroom management software, many IT teams are overwhelmed with requests from teachers. By giving teachers the tools they need to manage their technology-enabled classrooms independently, IT teams are able to focus on more strategic initiatives.
Emma Roberts of Tring School explains that before classroom management software, IT was inundated with requests. “Teachers would be asking, ‘Can you check what so-and-so is doing in my lesson? Because I think they’re off task, but I can’t figure it out.’ Or ‘Can you block this website for this student?’ We’d gotten to a point where the classroom management was falling on the IT team.”
Emma’s counterpart Luke Roberts, IT Manager at Tring School, agrees, adding that implementing classroom management software “has been a revolution” for his team.
Explore How You Can Transform Your Teachers’ Relationship with Technology
By providing the tools teachers need to lead technology-enabled classrooms more effectively, classroom management software has emerged as an invaluable instructional tool. It’s also making a huge difference for IT teams, letting them empower their teachers to manage technology independently, so they don’t need to carry as much of the burden.
Curious to learn more? Here are some additional resources:
