Training Teachers for the Computer Classroom

"Despite the best laid plans of computer programmers and network designers, mice and men sometimes cause the equipment to break down. For this reason, it’s important to have a backup plan for every activity--one that’s not dependent on the technology. It’s a lot more comfortable to make an easy switch to plan B than it is to have your class descend into chaos because the network is down.

As most teachers quickly learn, many computer-based activities can switch to paper-and-pencil variants or to small-group activities. For activities that cannot be transferred to paper or groups, think of alternatives that will still meet your teaching goals for the day. If you had planned a day of Internet searching, what alternatives could work? Or, if you have materials with you, could you substitute a discussion and work on citing sources? Thinking in advance about how to switch if the computers go down does reduce teachers’ stress."

This snippet comes from the handout titled, "Introduction." For the complete set of training and student handouts, see:

Teaching in the Computer Classroom