Using Traditional Technologies In the Classroom
Purpose and Goals
People are smitten with new technologies but often fail to give consideration to the appropriate use of traditional technologies that are used so often in the classroom. They may seem simple to use at first glance, but being easy does not necessarily mean use will always be effective. Thus, there are three goals of this workshop:
1) Understand how to use the technology in a general sense (skills).
2) Understand how to apply it in appropriate fashion to a given set of learning goals.
3) Understand the difference between teacher centered
strategies and student centered
strategies with regard to these
technologies.
In addressing the effective use of these technologies you may want to work along four major themes or dimensions:
1) Teacher centered issues
(basic skills)
Basic techniques of using these technologies
2) Activities
Have participants actually use and practice with equipment for a few minutes.
3) Student centered issues
Can you allow undergraduates to make use of these technologies during class
time?
4) Discussion
Examine the application of these technologies in class - perhaps a discussion about how they might be used on occasion to promote active learning among students. When might using these technologies be the wrong idea (for teacher or student)? Advantages and disadvantages of individual technologies.
Discuss and Use the Technologies
Distribute handout and discuss
Advantages:
Inexpensive, easy to use, widely available
Disadvantages:
Chalk dust, may require practice and prep work to use
effectively
Activity:
let everyone practice writing on the board, figure out what is legible and
what is not, test the 1-10
rule, try squeaking the chalk-does the 45º rule work?
2.
Overhead Projectors
Distribute handout and discuss
Advantages: bright - can be used
under regular lighting, use different
colors, prepare
materials well before class, face students while writing
Disadvantages: bulky and
difficult to transport, user must stand in one place, may require extra preparation, transparency
film is somewhat expensive
Activity: let everyone write on the overhead and try focusing it; does the
1-10 rule work
here? Would you allow students to use the overhead - when?
3. Slide Projector
Distribute handout and discuss
Advantages: vivid colors, can be run automatically, inexpensive
Disadvantages: can easily be misaligned, trays spill easily, must be shown in a
dark room, can not easily change the order of the slides
Activity: let everyone have a look at the projector and learn how to orient a slide.
Show them how to install and remove trays, move slides forward and
backward. Show
students example slides and ask them which is better for
the purpose given.
4. TV
/ VCR / Film / DVD (ie: presentation of film clips or movies in a general
sense rather than a specific format, but you might also consider what are the
advantages or disadvantages of the given format)
Distribute Handout and Discuss
Film
Advantages: multimedia
format - juxtaposes time and space, color, depicts movement - animation - process - time - space
Disadvantages:
equipment is heavy and expensive, film is expensive; requires subdued light; requires
knowledge of equipment (film projector); difficult
to use only segments of a film; usually takes up most of a class
period; film tears
and breaks easily.
Video
Advantages: easy
to operate, use of TV doesn't necessarily require lower lights; easily move forward or
backward for specific segments of film; may
be edited for tailor made instruction
Disadvantages:
equipment requires some knowledge to use; large scale video projection not widely available so TVs
may be suitable for smaller
audiences.
DVD
Advantages:
highest quality video and sound; easy to jump to different segments; can use a
computer and computer projector to show video.
Media is compact
and easy to transport
Disadvantages: new
technology so equipment may not be widely
available.
Activity: show them how to turn on and run a TV / VCR combo.
5. The
Room
Rooms are not often thought of as a technology, but the environment in
which you teach can sometimes help or hinder learning. There are two driving
questions with regard to the space in which you teach:
Is it a comfortable space for students to listen, interact and learn?
How can you use the features of the room to help students learn?
Distribute handout and have a brief discussion about the characteristics of
the Rooms in which TAs might teach.
6. Your
Voice and Body
Your voice and your body are probably the last thing you thing of as technology but these are the two tools you will use the most when communicating with students.
Distribute tips on using your
voice and your body.
Have students practice speak aloud
(could you have them read a passage from a book or journal).
Have students speak with their backs facing the class.
Have students communicate from corner to corner in the room. What level of voice do you need?
You might want to emphasize the use of the body throughout all the technologies listed above (ie pointing at the chalkboard, point with a finger on the overhead, walking from the slide projector to the screen and back again).
Chalkboard Tips
Visual Reinforcement
Hands-on Tips
Evaluation of your Board Work
Overhead Projector Tips
Designing Transparencies
Using and Overhead Projector as a Chalkboard
· Follow the same principles you would for using a chalkboard.
· Write legibly and avoid using handwriting or cursive form.
· Beware of the size of your projected pointer. They can sometimes appear large and blurry on the screen and block some of the other information on the transparency.
· If you wish to write and erase, make sure you use water soluble pens and bring some water and paper towels to wipe your sheets clean.
Slide Projector Tips
· Use a single type of presentation media - try not to mix slides with overheads.
· Use carousel-type projectors whenever possible.
· Arrange your slides in advance and make sure to use the locking ring on the center of the carousel.
· Use a dark slide at the end of your presentation. Some machines will display full light in empty slide slots. By placing a dark slide at the end of your presentation you can avoid temporarily blinding your audience.
· Try to use horizontal slides only. They have a larger viewing area for your audience. Vertical slides often cannot be seen completely. If you do use vertical slides, make sure they can be seen clearly before you start your presentation.
· Pictures of maps make for poor slides. Most of the detail in the map can not be seen by your audience. If you must use maps, enlarge important portions of the map so that details can be seen clearly, or, give out a printed version that is legible.
· Limit each slide to one main idea.
· Use charts and graphs rather than tables. Charts and graphs are much easier to understand and compare. Tables can appear complicated and confusing.
· Use quality well framed photographs. Close up shots are generally better than overall views because they show detail clearly.
· Choose slide colors carefully - avoid dark blue and red lettering. Use dark colored backgrounds and light colors for foreground objects (diagrams, lettering, titles, etc.).
· Keep a slide on the screen for no more than 10 -15 seconds. Most viewers won't spend more than 15 seconds examining your slide.
· Recognize that students may not be able to take notes during your presentation of slides. If you want students to have a permanent record of your presentation, create note or handouts, or put copies of the photographs, charts, and diagrams on reserve after the presentation.
· Keep your text simple and concise.
· If you have a small number of slides to show during the course of a lab or discussion section, group them together so that they are shown in once presentation rather switching back and forth between chalk board and slides, discussion and slides, etc.
The Room
Is it a comfortable space for students to listen,
interact, and learn?
· Is the room too hot or cold? Can you adjust the temperature or do you need to call facilities to have adjustments made?
· Are there enough chairs or spaces at the tables?
· Are there broken chairs or tables that need to be replaced?
· Do you have chalk and erasers?
· Is the room bright enough?
· Can you open / close the shades on the windows?
· Can you open / close the windows themselves?
· How do you operate the lights?
· Can you reach maps or screens to pull them down? Are they electronic / mechanical? Do the switches for the screens work?
· Will your voice carry to the back of the room easily (so that all students can hear) or will you have to elevate your voice.
How can you use the features of the room to help students
learn?
· Can you move the tables and chairs?
· Are the seats fixed?
· Given your teaching style can you encourage group work where the chairs are fixed? Can you present and use visuals if students are spread around tables?
· Is it easy our difficult for you to reach individual students for one - on - one interaction? Is it easy for students to interact with each other?
· Would you and your students be better off in a room with a different arrangement of chairs, tables, screens, windows, and chalkboards?
Tips for TV / Film / Video /
DVD
Preparation and Operation
· Show up well ahead of beginning of class to set up and test equipment.
· Sound is a frequent problem - make sure the film or video can be heard throughout the room.
· If you are using a TV to show the film have student get up and move or move their chairs closer so that they can see and hear.
· Check / Test your media well ahead of time (several days) to make sure you have received the correct film or movie and that the media is not damaged. If the film is damaged or wrong you will need time to return it and collect the correct version.
· Learn how to operate the equipment. UCLA's Audio Visual Services (AVS) will train individuals on how to use different pieces of equipment. If you are not familiar with a given piece of equipment - contact AVS for some training.
Teaching with Film / Video
· Prepare your students by telling them why you are showing a given piece of film or video.
· Tell students whether or not they should take notes.
· Interrupt (stop) the video when necessary to enhance learning - ask students questions; gather their reactions, ask them to justify their opinions of the film so far.
· Help your students to think critically about the presentation. Stop the film at specific points to ask questions or allow for discussion. View several presentations that offer different opinions on the same topic. Stop the tape before its conclusion and ask students to argue/defend what they think the conclusion should be. Ask students to compose their own ending to the story being shown. Tie the presentation to other types of media/material on the same topic ( ie print sources / a bibliography / a research guide).
· Produce your own short video presentations. Have students produce their own short video presentations. There are services on campus such and the Instructional Multimedia Production Lab or the Faculty New Media Center that can offer support for such projects.
· Conduct follow up activities after the film or video has ended. Lead a discussion, break students into groups to discuss specific issues, have them do a write up of the key points and major themes of the presentation - ask them to relate these themes or points to larger issues presented in the course.
Voice and Body Tips
Voice
·
You will need to speak loud and clear so that
all students in your class can hear you.
You will need your voice to be loud especially when you are trying to
pull students away from group work and back into one large group.
·
Practice your loud voice at home -even if it
seems silly. Read a passage of a book or
journal article at different voice levels - see what feels loud, what feels
comfortable, and what feels soft.
·
Do not talk to students with your back turned
towards them. Having your back turned causes your body to block your voice thus
making it hard for students to hear you.
·
Try not to talk to the chalkboard while writing.
Write, then turn and talk about what you wrote - or, talk first, then write.
·
When talking aloud, try to talk 50% slower than
you would in a normal one-on-one conversation.
Speaking aloud requires that you enunciate your words well and that you
give everyone a chance to hear and understand what you are saying. This can best be done when you slow down your
rate of speech. Read a passage from a book or journal aloud and try it at different
speeds.
·
If you are not sure whether your students can
hear and understand you - ask! Don't
wait until the end of the class or the end of the quarter. Ask within the first 10 minutes of class.
Students will appreciate your concern.
·
Don't be afraid to ask your students to speak up
so that the class can hear them. If a
student speaks softly, repeat their question yourself so that the whole class
can hear it.
Body
·
Your body can communicate ideas, emotions and
attitudes to students as easily as your voice. Be cautious about how you appear,
act and react to students.
·
A smile never hurts.
·
Don't be afraid to move around your
classroom. Being the teacher does not
require that you stay at the front of the room at all times.
·
If you can't hear a student's question - walk
over to them and ask them to repeat it so you can hear.
·
If it seems a student can't hear you - walk up
to them so that they can hear your question or your response.
·
Clothing - dressing up or dressing down - either
is OK. But we recommend that, since you
will probably do some standing, sitting, bending, and squatting during a class
session, you should probably wear the sorts of clothes that allow both you and
your students to feel comfortable.
·
Before you pick up sticks, pointers, and laser
beams, try using your arms and hands as your pointer. It is much easier to
watch the teacher point out something on the board with their arm and finger
than to try to follow a dancing point of light.
Sources:
UCLA Office of Instructional Development's "The TA AT UCLA - 1987 - 1988 Handbook".
Davis, B. G. (1993). Tools for Teaching. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.