Classroom Management: Noise Level and Staying on Task



At our school, we are required to use one of two classroom management programs for our students: Schoology or Google Classroom and one for administration issues, ASPEN. These tools are great for helping to keep track of students and managing their work. But they aren't the most efficient programs to help keep students on task and at an appropriate level. I want to introduce two forms of technology that can help with this.

For When I Want it Busy

The first technology I got from a colleague, it’s simple: a YouTube timer. This timer plays techno music and adds a lot of energy to the classroom. Also, it allows students to realize that they have a finite amount of time and they end up using their time efficiently. When students do not have a timer, they tend gravitate towards discussing issues not pertinent to the class activities. 



These timers come in 3,5, and 10-minute increments. What I like about this is that the timers do not go too long so as to make the students bored of an activity, but they are just long enough where students stay on task. If you need an interval that is not over of the ones listed above, just open the 10-minute video and fast forward it to the desired time. Of course, one of the issues with this is that it is noisy and there will be times when teachers will want a silent timer (e.g. times of deep concentration like assessments). 

For When I Want It Quite

That brings us to another classroom management app which is available for free on iOS devices Decibel X, there is a free version and a pro version. Our school has a noise policy where students are to speak between a level zero to a level four. The problem is, these levels are subjective and one student’s level 2 might be another student’s level 3. So, how can we help students realize that they are being too loud as a class when they are supposed to be at a lower voice level? By defining certain levels in terms of decibels and displaying the decibels of them to see. While I have yet to try this, it is most definitely something I will try when we come back together next year, hopefully in the fall. This would be mostly used when noise levels are to be low so that all students can concentrate. Not only that, if I wanted students to be energetic, I would be using my screen for a timer, not noise meter. 






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