| So you're taking the first step into using online | | | | - Have an online discussion. While these won't ever |
| tools in your classroom. While it can be very | | | | replace live face-to-face discussions, online |
| scary drafting up a lesson plan for using | | | | discussions can allow more people to join in. If |
| technology, it's not as hard as you think. Have | | | | you're discussing solutions to world poverty in |
| you mastered the use of a video in your | | | | your class, widening this to an online discussion |
| classroom? Then you can stop worrying and get | | | | allows you to maybe invite someone working on |
| back to planning your lesson. If you can use a | | | | the frontlines (e.g. someone from an aid agency) |
| video or DVD in a classroom setting, then you | | | | to join the discussion and give a unique |
| can use newer technology. | | | | perspective that isn't just theoretical. How do you |
| One of the real advantages of using online tools in | | | | know whom to invite to your online discussion? |
| your classroom is that you have so much more | | | | Well, maybe finding out who's doing what and |
| of it available. You really do have the world at | | | | whose opinion to invite may be something else |
| your fingertips. No more hunting around catalogs | | | | you can create a lesson plan for. |
| and your school's audiovisual resources - or your | | | | - Have an online scavenger hunt. Going online to |
| local library - for the perfect video to suit your | | | | find interesting and relevant material doesn't just |
| lesson or trying to get the VCR to record that | | | | have to be kept for formal reports and projects. |
| spot-on program for your unit on, say, the Middle | | | | How about using them as a tool for understanding |
| Ages. Using the internet, you can often find video | | | | literature? Most unit plans for a novel study have |
| clips that are suitable without much hassle. If | | | | a lesson plan for understanding the setting and |
| you're only starting out with using the internet in | | | | the background in them somewhere, and you can |
| your classroom, online video clips and YouTube | | | | use technology for this. How about, in a lesson |
| are the easiest online resources to create a | | | | plan for a Romeo and Juliet study, hunting for as |
| lesson plan for. | | | | many versions of the balcony scene as possible? |
| But you don't have to just stop there. No matter | | | | Or for a study of Pride and Prejudice, how about |
| what topic you are creating a lesson plan for, you | | | | finding pictures or even video clips of stately |
| can find some way to fit just a little bit of the | | | | homes, dances, transport and clothing of the |
| modern tools into it. As a starter, how about | | | | setting? |
| these ideas? | | | | But don't neglect the good old VCR or DVD |
| - Online presentations. Who says the old-fashioned | | | | player. They still have their place in the classroom |
| presentation in front of the class has to be seen | | | | and can and should thought of when you lesson |
| by the pupils who are present on that particular | | | | plan for technology. However, you have to use |
| day? Why not record the presentation and post it | | | | them correctly! Mistakes you don't even know |
| to YouTube or to your class or school website? | | | | you're making can be affecting your lesson plan |
| Often, parents have seen the progress of a big | | | | for the worse. Watch this free video for some |
| project, and it can be rewarding for them to see | | | | important information on why and how you should |
| the final presentation as well. Of course, you may | | | | be using school videos and download the expert |
| have to create a lesson plan for teaching | | | | guide for easy solutions. |
| presentation skills... | | | | |