With the continuing evolution of our technology, the normal set up of our everyday lives evolves as well. Emergence of software readily made available to make it more accessible and our lives more convenient is everywhere. One great example of this is the creation of the classroom management software. You might be wondering what a classroom management software is and how this is going to affect us and the world as we know it. If you identify yourself among the other thousands of people who will benefit from this software, the question you have to answer now is how to know or select the best classroom management software for you.
What is a Classroom Management and Who Needs It?
Before identifying who needs a classroom management, let us first identify what a classroom management is. Classroom management according to the glossary of education reform is a “wide variety of skills and techniques that teachers use to keep students organized, orderly, focused, attentive, on task, and academically productive during a class.”
A good flow of lesson should always be the priority of a good classroom management, people should always be interested in learning new things, for once the interest of the people in learning died down, the learning process will be halted, and a failure in classroom management follows.
Typically, a classroom management is used by people who need a continuous lesson flow. These are schools, training centers, reform centers, and research centers. Schools are the most common to patronize classroom management for it is from the original concept of a school setting where the idea of classroom management originates.
Different Types of Classroom Management Software
There are different approaches when it comes to management of the classroom. There are even several debates on which one is the most effective method to use. Just like the traditional management of a classroom, the software for class management is flexible to the needs of instructors or users. Teachers use the method that is more effective to them depending on the type of person they teach.
There are several types of classroom management software being presented in the market. This software still adheres to the different strategies and modes of teaching in a natural classroom setting. The following are some of the examples of classroom management software available in the market.
There are two types of classroom management software, the platform-based and the website-/cloud-based classroom management. The platform-based classroom management software is a software where an existing website purchase or lease the services of the software to incorporate it into their own website, whereas website-based classroom management is where they have their own website and domain to log into and interact with either a group discussion or your own rented space on the web. Sometimes, it is free, but most of the time, it has some fee for maintenance and other available advanced options.
- The platform-based classroom management. This is known to replace or copy the traditional classroom setting. Instead of a classroom, the instructor and the students gather in the same platform. They exchange ideas through a chat room, or a video conference takes place and the students were asked to attend. Homework is given to be submitted in the next meeting. This kind of classroom management is very common to the rising massive open online courses (MOOC). Schools such as Harvard University and Stanford University are among the list of other prestigious school that practice and participate in MOOC. You can choose between a diploma or a certificate course. The best thing about this is that non-certificate course is offered for free. All you need to do is accomplished the curriculum they set in the platform classroom management setup. Examples are org, Coursera, Udemy, and Khan Academy.
- Website-based classroom management or cloud-based learning management system (LMS). Not only is the website-based for teacher–student interaction, but also it is a great avenue to interact with the parents or guardians of the students. Teachers can give feedback to the parents or guardians regarding the status of their child’s development so problems can be properly addressed or be resolved immediately. The website-based classroom management is also ideal for recovering people in reform centers; they can communicate with other people undergoing the same situation as them. Normally, the website is equipped with tools that can aid the instructor in teaching. Examples of website-based classroom management are Class Dojo, Schoology, Canvas LMS, Series25, and AB Tutor.
Tips on Choosing the Best Classroom Management Software for You
If you’re someone who is stuck in a crossroad and confused on how to pick the best among the hundreds of classroom management software out in the market, below are some tips on what to look for in a classroom management software that can help you no matter what intentions you have in getting one:
- Check if the available tools being offered are easy to navigate and get familiarize with. Keep in mind that you will not be the only one who is going to use this software; if you’re having difficulty in navigating the page, possibilities are your students or other coordinators will have the same issue.
- Check out the quality of connection needed to interact. There is some classroom management software that has an issue when it comes to connecting with students and other members of the page. Issues such as the loading time of the page are taking too long to load up or intermittent communication due to a high demand of data bandwidth required. Ask the vendor about this kind of issues.
- Check if the classroom management software being offered has a free trial. It is always a good practice to ask for a free trial if you are trying something that is completely new to you because free trials can make you absolutely sure about the product that you are going to purchase. In this kind of sale, a free trial is essential to familiarize yourself with everything and check if the software is an effective tool for teaching.
- Check if the software has a mobile counterpart. We must always have an instant access to learning and the best way to do that is if you can take it with you anywhere. Mobility is something that will not only encourage students to learn anywhere anytime but also entice them to be updated with what’s new to learn.
- Ask the vendor about the inclusions of the package and how much the add-ons that you will need in the future are. Sometimes, add-ons are way too expensive, which restraints some educators and trainers on purchasing, when these add-ons are being offered free by the other companies. So always list down what you think is necessary for you to teach effectively and compare them with the ones being offered as part of the package.
- Check the overall interaction of the software and see if it is worth the money. Normally, classroom management software offers the basic tools such as attendance management, lesson plan management, grade book, and student monitor. If you are able to navigate throughout the website with complete ease and acceptable lagging time, then that’s a good start.
- Always check for reviews and comments about the software. Remember that experience is the best teacher so people who have actually experienced the software can attest to the effectivity of it. Also, try to check on ranking websites that are unbiased and have a transparent result system that can help you find the best classroom management for you.
Also, a good read is how to find the best school administration software for other school-related software concerns. It has a list of what the necessary tools in putting up an effective school setup through different school aid software are.
So whether you are a teacher or a trainer who is looking for a good alternative for teaching and exceed expectations from parents by promoting after-school activities, getting a classroom management software is the best solution for you. Not only does the software can make your life as an instructor easier, but also it can pass on the comfort of learning to your students, monitoring students and making sure that everyone is learning. The best part about the classroom management software is the innovation that can make teacher–student–parent interaction better outside the normal classroom setting.
Classroom management software has really made learning move forward. This has made learning easily available for everyone, closing gaps and reaching barriers wherever you are in the world. So if you have a complete passion for teaching, classroom management software is the best option to consider.
For a complete listing of the top classroom management software, you can visit CrowdReviews.com. They have an extensive selection of companies offering different services with a brief review of each company and a link to the website.
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