But I don't have anything to do...

Even in a wonderfully differentiated, highly engaging lesson, there can sometimes be students who find themselves ahead of everyone else and without “something to do”. With the implementation of the 1:1 technology, this can cause students to be lead astray by the luring call of Madden Mobile, Snapchat, Twitter...

So what do we do?

In the Spanish Department, teachers have created a “Tiempo Extra” poster to help direct students to a productive and enriching use of their time. As seen in the image below, the poster lists various activities that they can do to reinforce and enrich their learning. Some of the suggestions include reviewing their materials like vocabulary and grammar notes while some offer different online sources for them to continue to learn like Duolingo (an awesome language learning app) and Freerice.com.

View of poster in Spanish classrooms

It’s a good start, but what else can we do?

In her French classes, Ms +Sara Kahle Ruiz has taken it to the next level by using +Blendspace to help provide her students with additional activities that allow them to always have something class-related to do, even when they’ve gotten ahead in a lesson. Blendspace is a website that enables teachers to collect various resources (videos, links, activities, PowerPoint Presentations, user-created files, etc.) and pool them all in one visually appealing and easy-to-navigate source.

Partial view of a French 2 BlendSpace on Free Time and Weather

As seen in the picture above, there are various videos and links to activities related to the current unit of study. Students are offered choice in a variety of activities that Ms. Kahle Ruiz has found in order to increase students’ knowledge and French abilities. When the students click on their chosen activity, they’re given instructions as to what specifically to do with that particular activity. For example, below, the students are to watch the video about soccer and share three things that they learned.   

View of BlendSpace when a student selects the activity

Pretty awesome way to keep the kids engaged beyond the agenda, right?

Additionally, when you create a BlendSpace, you can share the link and editing privileges with the students. In doing so, the students can move from consumer to creator and share on topic resources that interest them with the rest of the class.

The iPad is an amazing educational tool...that can have with its own set of obstacles when it comes to distractions. The greatest part about Ms. Kahle Ruiz’s use of Blendspace is that she’s helping teach her students how to use their time appropriately in class. She giving them the opportunity and the support to make positive decisions and learn to see their iPad as a tool in their education....not just a school-provided Netflix viewer.

As we continue to develop best classroom management practices in a 1:1 environment, sharing is caring. What do YOU do in your classes when someone is off-task and responds “But I have nothing to do!”?

Please share below in the comments section and let’s start a powerful and helpful discussion!

Would you like to see more of Ms. Kahle Ruiz’s Blendspace? Click here. Want to learn more about BlendSpace in general? Check out the I Heart Ed Tech blog post with very comprehensive details, tutorials, etc.

As always if you’re interesting in talking about classroom management with the iPad, learn more about BlendSpace, want to bounce around some ideas, learn some new tech, or just get a little support? Talk to +Ms. Dawn Bodden or one of your DTCs!