Technology Use Skills That Get You Requested in High School Classrooms
The specific moves that make high school teachers and admins request you by name. 5 proven strategies, common pitfalls to avoid, and field-tested quick tips.
5
Strategies
3
Quick Tips
High School
Grade Level
Why Technology Use Matters for High School Substitute Teachers
Technology Use is the differentiator for substitutes in high school settings. You walk in with zero relationships. The subs who get requested repeatedly are the ones who establish calm authority and keep learning on track from the first minute using deliberate, repeatable techniques.
Practical Strategies
Leverage the teacher's existing digital workflow — check Google Classroom, Canvas, or Schoology first
Use collaborative tools like Google Docs or Padlet for group work and shared note-taking
Allow students to use personal devices for academic purposes with clear boundaries
Incorporate multimedia: short video clips, podcasts, or TED Talks related to the lesson
Use digital exit tickets (Google Forms) to collect student understanding data for the teacher
Common Challenges in High School
Students streaming content, gaming, or shopping online during class on personal devices
Navigating school technology platforms without proper credentials or training
Students who are more tech-savvy than you and use it to undermine classroom management
Quick Tips
Be upfront: 'I may not know this platform as well as your teacher — help me help you'
If tech is essential and you cannot access it, email the teacher or ask a department neighbor
Frame phone policies around respect, not control: 'I need your full attention for the next 20 minutes'
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Resources
This is skills-based professional development training only. It does not constitute state certification, a teaching license, or a guarantee of employment or assignments. All substitute teaching authorization and certification is issued exclusively by government/state/provincial/district authorities.
This is skills-based professional development training only. It does not constitute state certification, a teaching license, or a guarantee of employment or assignments. All substitute teaching authorization and certification is issued exclusively by government/state/provincial/district authorities. Actual substitute teaching authorization, certification, and credentials are issued exclusively by state, provincial, and district government authorities — never by training providers.
Master Technology Use and Get Called More as a High School Sub
Practical techniques that turn one-off days into reliable work. All substitute teaching authorization is issued exclusively by state, provincial, and district authorities.
Substitute Teacher Training provides practical skills development and resources to help substitute teachers perform more effectively in the classroom. Actual substitute teaching authorization, certification, permits, and credentials are issued exclusively by government/state/provincial/district education authorities. Decisions about hiring, pay rates, assignments, and any required credentials are made solely by schools, districts, and state education authorities. Completion of our courses results in a Certificate of Completion for professional development purposes only. We do not issue, approve, or guarantee any form of certification or employment.