But something has been at the forefront of my mind as I plan for this year--how to make my classroom more interactive. I've always found this easy to do in an English class, but it's more challenging in certain courses.
In world history, in particular, we don't have textbooks, and it's a content heavy course (the history of the world in 18 weeks), so I do rely on lecture. I try never to lecture for longer than 10 minutes without transitioning to a reinforcement activity, or a get-out-of-your-seats review, but I have students this semester whose attention spans can't even handle 10 minutes, so I've been brainstorming for new ways to deliver content without lecturing.
Keep in mind that the students I teach in world history tend to be struggling and have a difficult time self-starting. It tends to be the opposite end of the spectrum in psychology and sociology. Of course, in some classes students fall everywhere on the spectrum.
Here are five ideas I've come up with so far:
Print the slides of your PowerPoint, and post them around the room. Give students a copy of a guided notes handout and put them in groups of three or four. Play some music, and have groups rotate clockwise around the room. I ring a bell when it's time to rotate.
When they are finished, give students a handout with a question or two about each section of the notes that encourage them to reflect on the notes in terms of cause and effect and analysis.
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I've been having a lot of fun with simulations in psychology. An example is teaching the difference between sensation and perception. I led the students on a walk around campus, and they had to record the different sensations they experienced. Back in the classroom, they compared their observations and discovered that, even though everyone experienced the same things, what they recorded was different. We then discussed that this is because we all perceive (or organize our sensations) differently.
You can download the handouts for the simulation right now by clicking the link below the picture. It's part of a larger package that you can preview HERE.
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I love the imperialism idea!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Katie...Surrett really gets into it. He used to teach history. :)
ReplyDeleteI love these ideas! I have been looking for alternatives to lecture but know I can't just have the students read the information. The idea to turn your PowerPoint into a Gallery Walk is genius!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kelley! Now that we're 1:1, I like to follow it up with an open note Google Forms quiz. They're self-grading, so it's a really simple way to hold them accountable for the info. and to see what you may need to go over with them in more detail. I've got a blog I'll be posting this week about how to do that if you don't already! :)Leah
DeleteI can't get the picture notes sheet to download. Any advice?
ReplyDeleteHi, Allison--try clicking on the picture. It should automatically download. :)Leah
DeleteI was hoping to get an editable version. Is there one available? :)
DeleteI can make parts of it editable, but not the graphics. Email me at ljputty@msn.com. :)Leah
DeleteThanks for telling the alternative for literature.It is really very helpful for all the practicing teachers.All the 5 points which you have shared are worth reading!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great idea!! Thank you, Leah!
ReplyDelete