Your school district should have board adopted policies and procedures that clearly define what students and staff may, and may not, do when using technology provided by the school. These policies and procedures generally fall in the areas of Copyright Policies, Acceptable Use Policies, and Internet Safety Policies. If you are not familiar with these documents, take some time to click on the links provided here to gather some basic information. Then find out what provisions your school district has in place to cover these critical areas in technology use.

In addition to your school's legal policies, you will want to establish norms for student behavior when using equipment to complete an assignment. It helps to anticipate possible snafus and decide how they will be handled. For example, ask yourself:

• What should a student do if the equipment is not working properly?
• What do you want a student to do when s/he cannot access a file or an Internet site?
• How does a student get assistance when s/he forgets how to perform a task while using a software program?

You also need to think through how you will handle instruction using technology before you try to implement a technology-based lesson with students. Here are a few questions to ask:

• What student groupings will I use?
• If I have access to a large screen monitor, how will I use it?
• Will students all be working on the same thing at the same time?

There are more points to consider. If you're just getting started, the following links will help you prepare rules and procedures for classroom technology use.

The One-Computer Classroom Although many schools have computer labs, portable laptops, and multiple classroom computers, many classrooms are still dealing with a single computer in the classroom. Frustrated teachers ask, "What can I do with just one computer?" This site created by created by Annette Lamb explores the options.

Tip Sheet: Classroom Management: Strategies for managing technology-based instruction with limited computers, using a projection device, and using the Internet with elementary students.

Webscapes for Learning- Teachers as Information Architects: This ThinkQuest project focuses on a variety of issues surrounding technology use with students. Visit the Classroom Management and Technology area for specific suggestions on using technology in the classroom.