Investigating a Classroom Management Approach in a Computer Suite - Annie Haight

This article focused on specific issues related to teaching in an IT classroom. Issues that arise in these environments include background noise and the layout of computers – perhaps the dominance of computers?

Getting student attention back after a session working on the PCs was the main issue approached, and non-verbal signals were advised (flash the light, put music on slowly getting louder for 1 minute).

The importance of a ‘Psychological Contract’ was discussed, to encourage mutual respect. This would involve the teacher being open about issues and distractions, and acknowledge the difficulties around changing focus from using the computers to listening. There can be non-negotiable things such as mobile phones being turned off.

Perhaps out new IT classrooms like SOLSTICE’s ICE room will change the interactions in the room. The laptops will make the students feel more visible and less lost in the computer. If the teacher could turn off the monitors in a room this would force students to take focus away from the computer, but the mutual respect thing means that this should only be used with warning.

The article is very relevant to my teaching in IT rooms, when we let them loose on the Chat or Discussion tool. I tend to talk loudly to get the attention back, but this is not seen as good practice (“never start talking until the room is quiet”).