Classroom Management Strategies that Work

Tools used:

Articulate Storyline

Vyond

This course was created as part of an onboarding program for new teachers. It focuses on four strategies that help with managing a class (establishing expectations, using positive praise, maximizing structure and decreasing negative behaviors).  

The entire ADDIE model was used to create this course.  For ANALYSIS, new teachers were interviewed and surveyed about what issues they were concerned about most as they began their new careers, and managing a classroom was the number one concern.  Veteran teachers were also interviewed regarding what issues they struggled with most when they first started teaching. Classroom management was a huge issue for them as well. The fact that lack of management skills could lead to a performance problem that would have a ripple effect was cause for the course.  DESIGNING and DEVELOPING the course took shape after meeting with subject matter experts (veteran teachers, staff develop development trainers and novice teachers).  These SMEs came up with the most difficult challenges teachers face when it comes to managing a classroom, and from those top four challenges, the course was created.  The course was IMPLEMENTED the following summer with a group of new teachers as part of their induction program.  It was EVALUATED after completion and offered as a refresher course to experienced teachers who felt they could still use some help in this area, even though they already have some experience.  The evaluation portion of the course was a springboard for some valuable discussion regarding what new teachers need most and what supports they need moving forward. 

Each strategy is explained first and followed with a scenario-based example from which learners choose the situational response they feel is best.  Each response is followed by an explanation about why it was or was not the best response. 

Video examples created with Vyond are used to demonstrate what each situation looks like.  The course detail and instruction is followed by a knowledge check that includes multiple choice and true or false questions.  A review game in which learners help the teachers get back to her desk by answering correctly ends the course.  Learners roll a virtual die and answer a set of questions to complete the game.  Once all questions are correctly answered, learners have helped the teacher get back to her desk. 

Storyline features used include triggers, states, quizzes, variables and scenes.  Vyond video features include motion paths, and enter and exit effects. 

Video was recorded using voice memos.  Those were added to the course and video editing was complete.