This past year, schools made significant progress in properly utilizing online learning and giving gadgets to every student so that teaching could resume during the crisis. As school resumes in 2021-22, an unprecedented number of student gadgets will be in use in school buildings, posing new issues for teachers as they try to recommit kids to learning and have them concentrated and on task. Even though many institutions have some measures in place to supervise what kids do on their devices, some activities frequently slip through the cracks, disrupting learning. The following are five things that children may be performing on their gadgets that their teachers frequently overlook.

5 Undiscovered Activities

1. Self-Portraits — I’m not aware of any adolescent who would not want to examine oneself in photographs. Because the bulk of the gadget’s students use feature built-in cameras, kids will likely utilize them to take selfies throughout the day. While cameras might be useful for specific school tasks, they can also be a source of distraction, with students worried about snapping a good selfie on social networking sites rather than focusing on their work. Camera access can also raise privacy problems if students take and share photographs of peers without their consent.
2. Chatting with their buddies — Students no longer care about being caught giving a letter to a friend. With so many options for online communication, students may utilize Google Docs or numerous messaging apps to communicate with friends or strangers. These platforms have the potential to be used for cyberbullying. According to figures provided by Stopbullying.gov, approximately 20% of kids aged 12-18 reported experiencing harassment at school, with 15% reporting being bullied online or over text. Having ready access to school gadgets increases the likelihood of cyberbullying.
3. Video watching — If you know any youngsters nowadays, you know that regularly following their favorite Show on Netflix is a trend. While the opportunity to view films for specified educational purposes might be beneficial, students who have unrestricted access to online video platforms may become diverted from the job at hand and may be exposed to unsuitable content.
4. Launching Computer Apps – While desktop apps are required for learning with tech, there is an abundant number of applications that are not acceptable for a school context. Students will download applications and utilize them in class unless the school’s network administrator bans access to the app store. Apps not only consume valuable instructional time, but downloading apps that aren’t allowed or essential for schooling exposes the network to dangerous malware.
5. Playing games — Because cloud gaming systems allow for multi-device gaming, students can utilize their class devices to enjoy games like Fortnight, Overwatch, and Mario Kart. Students are likely to attempt to play their adored games on their gadgets while in class.

How to Avoid Online Distractions in a One-on-One Classroom

• Make it plain to students what constitutes proper and improper use of their work equipment. It is beneficial to have this discussion with both students and parents. Some schools require students and parents to sign a contract admitting that they know the laws and the consequences if they are not followed.
• Use filtering software and classroom management tools to minimize online diversions in a 1 on 1 classroom. Filters will assist in blocking websites that are improper, hazardous, or frequently cause students to become distracted. Finding a classroom management system that enables teachers to access both the web tabs on students’ gadgets as well as the entire screen is beneficial. The ability to monitor students’ actions in real time assists teachers in keeping pupils on course and addressing any problems as they arise.
• Instill digital citizenry. In addition to discussing the regulations for acceptable device use, it’s critical to have a broader discussion with schoolchildren about what it takes to be a decent digital citizen, such as how to stay protected on the internet, the threats of fraud and identity theft, unwanted sexual advances, and oppression, what to do if they see a pupil being bullied online, and how to resist sites that may contain viruses or inappropriate content.

Keeping these topics in the forefront of one’s thoughts is an effective way to encourage pleasant and ethical technology use.