Some Computer Lab Management Techniques

Don't forget to check the Taskbar on student monitors as you wander around the computer lab. Students can easily wander off task when using a computer and many of them are experts at hiding what they're doing. They'll quickly minimize the windows they don't want you to see.

Have students turn off their monitors while the teacher gives directions. Ever try talking to a teenager while they’re watching TV? You should know that the computer is just as distracting for our students as a TV set so have them turn off their monitors so they can hear the directions.
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Type PLEASE WAIT FOR INSTRUCTIONS on 8˝ by 11 papers, laminate them, and tape one sheet to the top of every monitor. Students flip the signs to the back of the monitor after you've given directions.

Keep a red plastic cup at each computer. When students need help, have them place the highly visible cups on top of their monitors.

Teach students to use the Track Changes feature when editing work in Microsoft Word. Go to Tools, select Track Changes and Highlight Changes. Backspace over the last word in the sentence to be edited. The backspaced words will display crossed out. Then use the Track Changes feature to review, accept, or reject changes.

If you use Microsoft Word, learn how to insert comments into Word documents. Highlight a word or phrase, go to Insert, select Comments, type your comment, and close the window. When a student moves the cursor over that word or phrase, the comment will pop up. Comments are a great editing and motivating tool for kids. Use them to guide drafting and brainstorming and to help students peer edit and work collaboratively on group projects.

Make it a class rule that students can help one another but cannot ever touch another student's computer. That way, you can be sure that learning occurs even when students help one another.

If you're a language arts or foreign language teacher using Microsoft Word, teach your students how to use the Text to Table feature. Have them copy a poem or song into a Word document, highlight the text, go to Table, select Convert, select Text to Table, and hit OK. They should now see a one-column table with each line of the song or poem in a separate cell. Have them highlight the column, then insert two more columns. Go to Table, select Insert, then select Column to Right. Foreign language students can use the first inserted column to write a word-by-word literal translation of the song or poem and the second inserted column to write a more elegant, figurative translation of each line. Language arts students can use the first inserted column to explain each line of the song or poem in their own words and the second column to rewrite each line poetically. This feature can also be used in other content areas.

Place different colored sticker dots on the left and the right bottom corners of each monitor. Use these to indicate which side of the screen you are talking about -- very helpful when using certain programs, such as the new Kid Pix -- and to determine whose turn it is if students share a computer.

When working in a computer lab, assign each student a computer. Students can line up in "computer lab order" in their classrooms. Seating goes very quickly when they get to the lab.

Keep keyboards clean -- and hopefully cut down on germs -- by always having students wash their hands before going to the computer lab or using classroom computers.

If you're working on a network, ask your technology coordinator to set up a shared folder for Internet resources. Then, when you're planning an Internet lesson, simply save a shortcut to the Web site in that folder. During lab time, students can go to the shared folder, double click the link, and go right to the site without typing the URL. This saves time and stress for both students and teachers.