Effective techniques to reduce digital distractions in the classroom
The issue of how to stop students getting distracted on devices is one that teachers and school leaders deal with every day. Devices, whether a Chromebook, laptop or tablet, are central to modern teaching and learning, but, without the right mitigations in place, the same tools that enhance learning can just as easily undermine it.
We know that metacognition is important to help young people succeed with their learning. Set routines, grounded in metacognitive principles – ‘I say, you say – photosynthesis’ – when young people know how to learn best, their outcomes improve too. The same is true when it comes to your use of technology. Sharing how teachers use, and subsequently, how students and pupils can use technology, can improve outcomes.
Set clear expectations from the start
Effective teaching and learning starts with the culture in your classrooms. It’s the same with technology. If students know your expectations of them when you are teaching, with (or without) technology, that culture impacts overall outcomes.
When we spoke with Orla Weaver, Senior Deputy Head (Academic) at the Grammar School at Leeds, about their use of classroom.cloud, she was clear that, whilst it was vital to launch and train teachers in the use of the tool, it was also important to:
“…launch it to students, because I think it’s important that they understand why we’re using it, so that they engage with it. It’s not about big brother is watching you. It’s about we’re here to support your teaching and learning, and we’re here to make sure that you have every opportunity to focus on the task in hand.”
Schools that manage device use well do not rely on rules alone. Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs) matter, but shared expectations and consistent, day-to-day practice ensure everyone is clear on how to stop students from having their attention diverted.
Control what students can access
The simplest way to stop students from getting distracted on devices is to remove access to distracting content during lesson time. You’ll know what it’s like. Students taking time to find the right resource, drifting into other parts of a webpage, taking time to type in URLs or quickly checking their messages. That does not mean blocking the internet entirely; it means giving teachers precise, real-time control over what students can and cannot reach.
With classroom.cloud, teachers can restrict website and application access instantly. They can also launch relevant resources, limiting access to only what is needed, so students stay focused on the task at hand. There’s no need to involve IT, and no delay or disruption to your class. Teachers set the boundaries from their own device and can adjust them at a granular level as the lesson develops, responding to the needs of the students in front of them.
Monitor screens without leaving your desk
Recognised as a feature which supports accessibility, but with classroom.cloud, you can make your presence visible without ever having to stand behind a student working at their device. From the teacher dashboard, you can view all student screens simultaneously, identifying any who are off task, and importantly, spotting those who need help – and those who don’t but are ready for more stretch and challenge. In the event a student does need redirecting, you can even take control of their device or send a private message without drawing the attention of the whole class.
Regain whole-class attention in seconds
Sometimes, you need the class to have their attention to you. When you aren’t using technology, it’s often far easier (“1, 2, 3, eyes on me”) than it is when they have a device in front of them. With classroom.cloud, you can lock all screens with a simple click, bringing instant focus (and often an “Awwww!” from your class!) back to you. No raised voices or waiting for students to self-regulate, just simply their attention when you need it.
Keep pedagogy front and centre
Tools that reduce distraction are only as effective as the lessons they support. If tasks are unclear, poorly planned or insufficiently engaging, students will find ways to disengage, regardless of what is on the screen. The most successful schools use classroom management technology to reinforce the already well-designed teaching and learning episodes that existed before the technology arrived. They use it to reduce structural opportunities for distractions, whilst keeping the teacher fully in control.
If devices are central to learning, managing attention is essential and a core part of teaching practice. classroom.cloud brings together classroom management, online safety and IT asset management in a single, affordable, easy-to-deploy platform, giving teachers direct, real-time control over how technology is used in their classrooms, guided by their professional judgement.
For schools considering how to stop students getting distracted on devices while strengthening teaching and learning, classroom.cloud offers a practical, proven starting point.
Discover more about how classroom.cloud can help in your classroom!