The Tech-Friendly Classroom
Enhancing relationships in The Tech-Friendly Classroom
Using Friendzy digital lessons to enhance relationships
When technology in the classroom is mentioned, what image comes to mind? For many of us, it might be red-eyed students staring at a Google Chromebook in a silent classroom, devoid of relationships.
While there are a ton of amazing tech innovations that have the capacity to make classroom lessons more engaging and provide instant feedback to teachers, all of the new technology can also feel incredibly overwhelming and can take away from students forming relationships with one another.
So, in a year when the majority of classrooms have at least a few remote students, how do we leverage technology in a way that enhances relationships?
With Friendzy digital lessons, you can find the perfect marriage between engaging visual and interactive content and relationally-centered lessons that encourage collaboration and friendship!
Watch our introduction to using Friendzy digital lessons in remote and tech-friendly classrooms below:
5 Tips for Enhancing Relationships in the Tech-Friendly Classroom
1. Use the Friendzy Daily Check-In Tool & Exit Tickets for soft starts and ends to your class day.
Both of these Friendzy resources help you build a soft start/end routine into your class time that students can count on. SEL soft starts/ends help students in practicing self-awareness while also emphasizing a classroom culture of support and trust.
When pairing with available learning apps like Pear Deck (free to use) or Google Classroom you’ll receive instant feedback that can help you plan your day. To further emphasize an emotionally safe environment, give students an opportunity to share their reflections with the class or in small groups.
2. Plan Friendzy activities for on and off screens.
We all know how quickly screen fatigue can set in. While relationally-based lessons like Friendzy should be a priority for synchronous class time, be sure to pepper in opportunities for off-screen reflection. Friendzy Workbook activities and group questions used as essay prompts are great tools for off-screen SEL time.
3. Incorporate as much small group work as possible.
Speaking up while in a large remote environment can feel intimidating and risky. By creating opportunities for small group collaboration and discussion through break-out rooms and shared live documents through Google, students have the opportunity to build authentic relationships. Consider mixing up groups half-way through each Friendzy unit.
4. Let students get to know you.
Share with students your hobbies, pets, fears, and favorite foods. If you are teaching remotely from home, use the opportunity to share more about yourself through your setting. Make sure every Friendzy lesson you share a “Real, Relatable, Relevant” story that helps students know more about you and make real-world connections on how to use their budding SEL skills.
5. Give & get quality and frequent student feedback.
Make sure your remote students know they aren’t just a face on a screen. Take the time to write personalized and detailed feedback on assignments- especially with reflective Friendzy prompts and during Friendzy classroom discussions. For soliciting feedback from students, use Friendzy Exit Tickets and the longer Google-form version of the Friendzy class check-in. When you incorporate feedback into the classroom be sure to tell students explicitly that their feedback inspired the lesson. For older students, start teaching how to give helpful feedback and actively listen to one another.
