7 mistakes teachers make when showing videos

Video use in the classroom has gotten a bad reputation due to poor use. Never be that type of teacher, and use videos correctly. This video gives 7 mistakes that are often made when showing videos.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hURE5m7Pvzc&feature=related



1st mistake: Not using video enough or consistently enough

2nd Mistake: Not using appropriate videos

3rd Mistake: Just playing the video

4th Mistake: Using internet videos to save money

5th Mistake: Not testing the equipment before the lesson

6th Mistake: Not reusing the video for various content areas or multiple lessons

7th Mistake: Not repeating the clips or video several times to connect video to whole unit

Pictures, Interactives: Science Ediition

The internet can be used for more than just webquests and projects. It can be used to provide students with visuals and manipulatives that can provide some real learning opportunities. These manipulatives can be used withing specific webquests or as stand alone demonstrations.

First, pictures are a great resource you can show your students these can be found by you, and it's amazing what a simple google found image can do to enhance student understanding of crazy words that may be hard to understand. Take for example: Ptarmigan. Look at the above picture. This is a ptarmigan. Now after seeing a single picture you know a great deal, and may make many inferences about the ptarmigan.


Interactives can allow your students to see and manipulate concepts. A few examples of ways students can manipulate various biology/life science concepts can be found below. Most topics have a host of resources like this if you look for them.

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/interactives/systems.html

http://www.cellsalive.com/cells/cell_model.htm

http://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/pepperedmoth.html

Cool Lesson Idea: "Wanted Poster"

I found a really cool way to allow students to demonstrate learning in a unique and novel way. Students are prompted to demonstrate learning by create a "Wanted Poster". You can use the wanted poster to describe anything from animals to complex science terms. In this poster you can require students to include various types of information. A few recommendations for things you that could be included could be: picture, where you might find it, what it does, why it is wanted, is it dangerous, how could you catch it, and who you should contact if seen. This "Wanted Poster" idea can be used very effectively when done with student access to computers and the internet. For any teachers of Biology this link gives access to a "Wanted Poster Project for bacteria.

http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/ATG/data/released/0210-JoyceCalo/

Enjoy, and good luck,