The start of every class period should look the same. As you arrive, even before the bell rings, you should begin the start-of-class checklist. It will focus you in several ways.
On Google Classroom, it looks like this:
That link loads the handout. It fits on the front of a single page. Laminated color copies are posted on the walls and spread throughout the room.
Here is a direct link: https://tinyurl.com/makerspace-start
Step #1: The Physical Space
Using the space effectively is about much more than modular tables and rolling chairs. You can choose seats that allow you to collaborate, and you can rearrange the room to suit your goals. Be sure to
- sit where you can be most productive;
- avoid groups that will distract you;
- load only what you need on your Chromebook; and
- put away your phone.
On the last two points: Store the phone where it can’t tentacle its way into the learning environment, and strip the Chromebook of anything not related to our work. You lack the self-control to do anything else.
Step #2: Google Classroom
The use of a form to set goals and practice mindfulness is detailed here: The Start of Class: Daily Calibration. The goal-setting is a requirement. It ought to happen at the start of class, and it must happen within the first ten minutes or so.
Always check your current, upcoming, and missing assignments. Those posts will provide a road map for the rest of the period. Read all directions and announcements carefully, and be sure to click on every link.
Step #3: Gmail
This step is best understood as a failsafe for Google Classroom. Set up notifications so that you can be informed of any and all updates related to the course, from new posts to individual feedback. If you need help organizing your Gmail inbox, make that a priority.
Step #4: Google Drive
Another failsafe. You’re more likely to open documents and files somewhere else, but you should have this app organized well enough to find any file you need quickly.
You will often share folders and files from Drive when you are compiling evidence for grading purposes.
Step #5: Sisyphean High
You most often find yourself on the course website through a Google Classroom link. It needs to be bookmarked, though, because it contains everything related to the learning process. All lectures, notes, and other posts are required reading.
You should also begin to use this site as a means of asking questions and getting feedback. The comment section is always open, and it’s a waste to leave it empty.