Today we had a busy day scheduled for us. Our day started out as usual, waiting for the bus. Yet again it did not stop at the bus stop, once again it stopped about 30 metres ahead of the bus stop, wonder if the bus will ever stop at the “right” place during our stay.
Today the classes we observed were a sustainability class, a 20th Century history, and a human science class, here’s what I learned in each class:
In Sustainability class, I found out about a great tool to use for teaching. The app I found out about is slack.com. With this app, a teacher can create a group for each class and hand out assignments and write announcements to the class without printing out anything. Students can also use this app to post their homework as well as ask the teacher for help if he/she is online. This app will help teachers by saving paper and ensure that students don’t lose homework/work sheets. This will also give students the one on one help that they need outside of class.
In the 20th Century history class, I found out about another great tool for students to use during class to take notes. The site is popplet.com. With this site, students can write their own notes, create mind maps, insert images, even share/co-edit with a partner(s). This site can also be used as a final project where the students add to it every unit and at the end add the teacher as an editor and he/she can mark it and add notes to it. This helps students because they are actively engaged in the content in a way that they would be more interested in.
In the human science class I learned some classroom management tips. The teacher of this class has a rule about electronics, each class, each students get one warning to put the phone away, after that warning is up, students have the choice of three punishments, extra homework, leave the class, or a predetermined punishment set at the beginning of the year by the class (in his class it was to bring snacks for the rest of the class the next day). This could significantly lessen the non-academic use of electronics in class. To implement this in my classes, I would go one step further and add a three strike rule where I take away their electronics after three strikes. I would also lessen particular student’s chances by taking away chances if they abuse their electronics on a daily basis.