That is why you watch the lecture at home. Now we have time to do the learning in class. Kids who do their WSQs regularly (see the previous article How do you know they watched?), are active and engaged during the class period say that they don't need to study at home. Grades? Straight As.
What is it that we do in class? Firstly, we discuss the impressions, previous knowledge and confusions about the video lecture. Next, we set goals - what is it that students are supposed to learn and what is the purpose of it all. Then all sorts of activities come to the scene. That is the time to handle the information from the video. We play board games, dance, model Plasticine, experiment, play video games and use other multimedia stuff, draw... At the end, we check if we have achieved our goals.
Let me take you back to the beginning. At first, children had fantastic reactions. Everybody works. Everyone is engaged. Teacher's paradise! And this teacher naively hoped it would stay that way forever. But why it didn't? First of all, it wasn't new anymore. They got used to "different" classes. However, it seems that the effort students are expected to invest is the key factor. They need to try harder, make an effort. It isn't easy to stay focused and concentrated, to overcome obstacles and clarify the confusion, see the mistake and correct it, and therefore, learn from it.
My energy previously invested in creating entertaining and fun classes is now transformed into energy of facilitation. I walk around the classroom, keep track of students' progress. I try to detect their needs as they emerge and respond appropriately. I am no longer the deliverer of information, but the guide through their learning adventure.
What is it that we do in class? Firstly, we discuss the impressions, previous knowledge and confusions about the video lecture. Next, we set goals - what is it that students are supposed to learn and what is the purpose of it all. Then all sorts of activities come to the scene. That is the time to handle the information from the video. We play board games, dance, model Plasticine, experiment, play video games and use other multimedia stuff, draw... At the end, we check if we have achieved our goals.
Let me take you back to the beginning. At first, children had fantastic reactions. Everybody works. Everyone is engaged. Teacher's paradise! And this teacher naively hoped it would stay that way forever. But why it didn't? First of all, it wasn't new anymore. They got used to "different" classes. However, it seems that the effort students are expected to invest is the key factor. They need to try harder, make an effort. It isn't easy to stay focused and concentrated, to overcome obstacles and clarify the confusion, see the mistake and correct it, and therefore, learn from it.
My energy previously invested in creating entertaining and fun classes is now transformed into energy of facilitation. I walk around the classroom, keep track of students' progress. I try to detect their needs as they emerge and respond appropriately. I am no longer the deliverer of information, but the guide through their learning adventure.