Connecting with the world outside the LMS

I’ve started using a new (to me) type of activity with my grade 11 Physics class.  One that takes the course outside the LMS, and brings students’ interests into the class.

In Physics, it’s so important for students to apply the concepts to the world around them.  I’ve started using a different type of assignment, to give them practice doing this.  The activity involves finding a general interest picture on the internet (not from a Physics website) that illustrates a concept they’ve been learning about.  The assignment uses a discussion board, and takes this form:

• Post the link to the photograph you’ve chosen
• Write a description of how it illustrates the concept, and submit it to a dropbox
• Choose two photographs that classmates have posted, and post to the discussion board, explaining how those illustrate the concept

In a variation on this, I’ve asked students to create a problem, based on the photograph they have chosen, post the link and problem to the discussion, and submit the solution to the dropbox.

My purpose?  I want students to realise how many different ways Physics concepts are applied – and I want them to see those connections in situations that interest them.  I ask the students not to publish their own interpretation of the photo they chose, because I don’t want there to be a sense that theirs is the “official” version.

The results, so far?  Students generally choose interesting pictures (beautiful, awe-inspiring – or funny) that involve an activity they’re interested in.  The discussions around the pictures reveal much about how they can apply Physics to real-world situations.

An unintended result?  Students respond with interest and enthusiastic comments to the photos their classmates have chosen.  It gives the students a chance to share personal interests with each other – and think it is helping to ‘gel’ the class.

Yesterday, I came across some ideas for online activities from a pair of language teachers at Six favourite teaching online activities – e-moderation station.  Their ideas also bring other media, and the world outside the classroom (or LMS) into the course – and can be used to help ‘gel’ the class, or adapted as icebreakers.