Teachers can Win-Win with Behavior Management
Grand Canyon University: EDU- 536
July 30, 2014 Since the beginning of the one room school house, students have passed notes, whispered to the student next them, and created noisy interruptions during instruction. In the 21st century, these disruptive behaviors are more technologically advanced. How can teachers minimize students’ misuse of their digital devices? Noisy behavior that interrupts instruction happens every day in a classroom; by employing methods from Kagan’s Win-Win discipline theory, teachers can remain in control and manage their students’ behavior. Cell phones, tablets, and laptops have become as common as paper and pencils in the classroom. Having these devices readily available for students to research, take notes, or snap a photo of an assignment is a great advantage during instructions, but it does have its drawbacks and can lead to discipline problems. One problematic behavior is that students can cause many noisy distractions with their technological devices (Daniels, 2014). Just as a student tapping his or her pencil during instruction, an unsilenced cell phone can interrupt instruction when receiving a text or simply updating its software. Interruptions often break students' concentration and lead them to disconnect from engaging during instruction (Gasman, 2011). Another disruptive behavior caused by the use of digital devices is using the device inappropriately during instruction. Similar to students engaging in side conversations in the back of the classroom that are disruptive and disrespectful, texting during class can be very distracting and many school environments forbid the use of cell phones during school hours except when teachers designate digital use in the classroom. While few studies have placed much value on digital devices as a cause for interruptions in the classroom, it has become increasingly more prevalent in the high school environment. According to Kagan’s Win-Win discipline theory, disruptive behavior is due to a need not being met. Win-Win discipline looks at seven positions that cause inappropriate behavior due to a need not being met. One of those positions is known as the control seeking student. This type of student does not want to be told what to do, how to do it, and when to do it (Kagan, 2002). If the rule in the classroom that day is to not to use 21st century technology in the classroom, this places the control over the devices with the teacher. When the phone chimes or the tablet beeps, the noise is a distraction. You might ask how is a sudden noise from a device a behavior issue or what need is not met by an accidental chime from a device? The need out weighs the rule. That need to be in control and in constant proximity of their device is so strong that students forget to silence their devices and choose to use the devices whenever they desire. This dependency on technology can cause behavior problems in students that are normally very compliant. This generation’s digital natives are so attached to their devices much like an infant is attached to a pacifier, that students are compelled to fulfill the need to have their devices with them at all costs. Unfortunately, out of the need to have their devices with them at all times improper use of their technology can distract and disrupt classroom instruction.When disruptions from noises and disrespectful use of student devices occur, teachers should implement strategies to correct the behavior and regain control of the learning environment. Students must learn how, when, and where to use their devices responsibly and with some maturity and teachers have the responsibility to help them develop those behaviors (Kagan, 2002). The site for this study was largely conducted with the help of teachers from a local high school named MHS. This school was the perfect setting for this study because MHS was one of the pilot