Get Your Students Hired
A phone app. is Kitchen Calc. It is $1.99 as compared to a a calculator for $15.00. This is good for conversions in math class.
Thank you for the great tip! I just accessed study stack and almost forgot to post! It is so important to make learning fun, and relevent. Apps and websites geared for learning and applying learned concepts are invaluable to educators. Realizing students ability to "log on" is slao important. Bring these resources to the classroom so every student has the ability to try them for themselves.
I incorporate YOUTUBE videos on experts mentioned in the textbook while lecturing. It gives the expert a face and makes them real to the student. Additionally, we will look at websites of companies we are discussing in class. I have also asked students to reach out to the companies via email to answers questions they may have. I really just try to encourage the students to not be scared to interact.
One word: tablets. The portability coupled with the interactivity makes a powerful combination for both types of learners (audio & visual). Plus, there's the potential for immediate feedback if there's an assessment of skills. With the introduction of tablets into elementary education, this new technology will soon be ubiquitous in all levels of education.
Even for adult learners who have yet to embrace the technology, tablets offer an efficient and engaging instructional interface that's easy to learn.
Technology can be a problem with corporate limitations but I try as often as possible to understand Gen X and Y students style of gathering information by how they use social media. Youtube videos are usually no more than a couple of minutes long. Twitter has limited characters for each post. Vine and Snapchat videos are very short. Learners today get their information in short bursts so that is how I have changed my teaching style. I no longer have long lectures without asking them to look up something on their phones, or showing them a video, or moving to another part of the room so their attention follows me. I will show a youtube clip of not only how to properly do a technique but also a few minutes later show one of how someone does a technique completely wrong. Anything to keep their attention!
Craig,
I bet getting out of cleaning is a big a deal after a messy day in the kitchen! Excellent incentive.
Theresa Schmitt
Hi Theresa,I teach a culinary class and aside from the slides and videos, when we're in demo or lecture, and there's question on a technique or procedure that I don't have ingredients for,You Tubes has helped to engage the student.Or sometimes the first one to pull it off their iphone gets out of cleaning that day.
I assembled a jeopardy game for hydraulics class to utilize as a course review. The student engagement through the exercise where I break the class into two teams to come up with questions to the answers is remarkable. Also I found a site Study stack.com where I could assemble questions I can put together and the students be able to access on their own from home. the site offers games they can play with the questions flashcards, hangman etc. It is used extensively in my course.
provide a complex and realistic learning environment in the classroom
gain knowledge from reflecting on life experiences
group collaboration
multimedia-rich presentations
make real-world connecuions
create a bridge between traditional classroom practices and constructivist practices
All of the above concepts are threads that I visit to allow students to participate in their learning--it certainly wakes them up!
At my work we have all created work FB accounts. We have found it a lot easier to communicate with our Graduates. We can send them messages, post new job leads, and talk to them vs asking them to return our calls. This has been very successful for everyone who started using FB to reach our students and Graduates.
Suzie Boozell
At our school we are set up with technology, although we haven't up to this point fully integrated into our classrooms. I have used you tube/facebook and a few other sources. I am going to research Poll Everwhere and a few others that I have read through responses. I would like to know if I only have access to 1 computer, projector and students only have there smart phones, are there any other resources that you know of that I can research!
Although not new, I believe the classroom response systems can be quite effective for student engagement. My current job plans to purchase clickers for one of our classrooms, but I have already designed and built an electronic buzzer system for end-of-semester review games. The feedback I always get with the buzzers is that they really enjoyed the review sessions and learned a great deal.
The only real thing that I've found to be useful for students are:
- Online video tutorials that supplement what's been learned in class.
- Wiki sites, especially one set up specifically for the class.
- Discussion Forums. This allows for further dialog on class content during and after class.
- Industry Blogs. Usually sites from professionals in the industry giving some kind of insight into current trends or technology.
I found it's helpful to use a combination of all these to really get students going.
I have had students work in small groups or with
a "study buddy" which does help them engage in
learning. I do want to try some of the new technologies I just learned about (other than
power point) to "rev up" my grammar lessons.
I do as well, Jason. It's a great tool. I advise the students to utilize social media by "friending" local bloggers and magazines to see what's trending now.
I enjoy video games and so do most of my students. I often use examples of video games as we talk about programming concepts or design. My projects also involve creating small, simple games to help keep students interested. They love the final result and can walk away with a project they can use and modify down the road.
Kassy,
I am also a huge fan of Articulate Storyline- thank you for sharing! I find the software very intuitive and easy to master. Creating digital content and publishing for various devices has never been easier!
Wishing you continued success in the classroom.
Theresa Schmitt
Tony,
Thank you for sharing, Tony. NPR is a fantastic resource, many times I have printed transcripts to share with class after listening to an interesting story on the radio on my way in to work.
Wishing you continued success in the classroom.
Theresa Schmitt
We include an interactive multi media in most modules for our fully online courses using Storyline. There are many built in features for adding checks on learning and you add your own video, which we oftentimes cull from Youtube.
Currently, I teach at a technical college and the majority of the students are non-traditional, first-generation students. They do not all have access to computers and technology. Unfortunately, that is not a valid excuse. Therefore,assigning them projects that requires them to use Power Point or Prezi is often a challenge. However, they are required to do the presentation based on current topics as they relate to the course. Students are required to give credit to sources and cite information verbally and written.
Although many students enter the course with fear and frustration of the unknown, once they leave the class they are aware of the use of the internet, Power Point, Prezi, and the appropriate means for APA format.