Posts Comments

Making Online Learning Work For You

July 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Online Learning

Image via Wikipedia

An education using online learning can be the perfect answer to your busy life. For many people, the many responsibilities that they have in their lives make it difficult for them to acquire more schooling. However, most people know that with more schooling, their lives will improve. This is a primary reason why online learning is so attractive to so many people.

You need to have the right attitude in order to be successful with online learning. Do not make the mistake of thinking that because all of your learning takes place online then online classes are not challenging and rigorous. On the contrary, you will likely find that it takes a certain measure of discipline in order to be successful at these types of classes.

There is one thing that you must be and that is organized. You will soon find out that if you do not make the use of a calendar or some other type of organizational system for keeping track of all of your assignments and their respective due dates, then you will fall hopelessly behind.

In addition, you must make a plan that allows you to complete your work with plenty of time for unforseen circumstances such as power failures and computer mishaps. There are few professors who allow their online learners to turn in their work late. If you do so, you will see your grades dip dangerously low so it is best to avoid this at all costs.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Teaching Methods Tagged With: , ,

A Closer Look at the Scaffolding Teaching Method

June 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment
"Teacher Appreciation" featured phot... 

Image via Wikipedia

There are a number of different teaching methods that teachers can use in the classroom. The most popular teaching method used by teachers of elementary or grade school classes is the scaffolding teaching method. This method takes concepts that the teacher wishes to teach and allows the students to learn them in a step-by-step system.

Here’s a closer look at the scaffolding teaching method that teachers use in the classroom.

How Scaffolding Teaching Works

Scaffolding teaching works by having the teacher take a concept that he or she wishes to teach the class and breaks it down into sections. Each section is a little more advanced than the previous section and all sections combined create the concept the teacher was trying to teach.

Benefits of Scaffolding Teaching

Teachers love to use scaffolding because it comes with a number of benefits. The first benefit is that students are given a sense of independence because they figure one step out and then work on the next step. Another benefit is the teacher is able to assess students’ skills and build on them. This allows the teacher to teach at a quicker pace because they are not re-teaching concepts the students already know.

How to Make Scaffolding Successful

Scaffolding teaching can only be successful when the teacher does the correct preparation. You must first assess the students’ skills and basic understanding, and then create a lesson plan off of that. Without this preparation scaffolding teaching will be unsuccessful and students will not receive the benefits of this teaching method.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: General, Teaching Methods Tagged With: , ,

SMARTboard Features That Help Teachers Teach

June 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
SMART Board - Installed and in Operation

Image by Old Shoe Woman via Flickr

There is a lot of talk regarding SMARTboards in the classroom. Almost every college, grade school and high school has at least half a dozen classrooms that are equipped with a SMARTboard. However, despite all the talk and buzz regarding these highly technical chalkboards, many people still do not know exactly what a SMARTboards do.

Here’s a look at some of the features of a SMARTboard that makes them so highly desirable by classroom all across the world.

Works Like a Chalkboard

A SMARTboard can be used exactly like a chalkboard. The only difference is instead of using chalk to write you use a digital ink pen. These ink pens can come in a number of different colors and can be used to write anything on the SMARTboard. There is a small sensor in the tip of the pen that reads what is being written and projects it onto the board.

Erase Mistakes With a Wave of Your Hand

Another feature that is similar to a traditional chalkboard is the digital eraser. This is a small bar that can be used just like an eraser. When it is time to clear the board or erase a mistake, you lift the bar and wipe it across to remove the writing on the board.

Onscreen Keyboard

The SMARTboard has an on-screen keyboard that can be brought up onto the screen with a touch of a button. This keyboard allows teachers to type out information so students can read it. This information can also be converted into emails or documents that students can later access and reference when studying.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: General, Teaching Methods Tagged With: , ,

Top 4 Coolest Courses You Can Take Online

June 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

There are many different types of classes students can take online. If students think there are a variety of classes on campus, just wait until they see what’s available online.

Here is a brief inside look at some of the coolest online courses students can look into taking.

Social Media

There’s no denying that social media is completely taking over the Internet world right now. With social media, businesses can contact a large variety of people over the Internet in just a matter of minutes. What social media can do is pretty amazing. Now students can take courses where they learn social media and what it can do for their business.

Yoga Classes

Yes, yoga classes. Through these classes students can improve their breathing and relaxing techniques. They will also learn the background and philosophy of yoga. Students can get college credit and exercise at the same time. It’s a win-win situation.

Ghost Hunting

Students can buy a book for less than $10 students and learn the basics of ghost hunting. Teachers take a more scientific approach and share with students the 30 plus years of combined knowledge that relates to life and life after death.

Crime Scene Analysis

Thanks to the popularity of the television show CSI, crime scene analysis is quickly becoming a popular program. Many colleges offer courses on criminal justice where students can solely focus on crime scene investigation.

Flight Attendant Training

People can now take classes online to become a flight attendant. Students will get the basic knowledge to successfully complete the application to become a flight attendant, how to land an interview & ways to get the perfect job.

 

Filed Under: General, Teaching Methods Tagged With: , ,

How SMARTboards Help Students Learn a Foreign Language

June 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Picture of a Smartboard

Image via Wikipedia

Interactive smart technology is being used in classrooms all over the world. Whether it is a math class for third graders or a college level Spanish class, the interactive SMARTboards are helping students learn and grow at accelerated rates. While almost every classroom has the use of a SMARTboard the class that gets the most benefit out of it is a class that teaches a foreign language.

Learning a foreign language can be difficult but with the help of a SMARTboard students are able to learn and understand concepts in a group setting. Here’s a look at exactly how SMARTboards help students learn a foreign language.

Better Student-Teacher Interaction

SMARTboards allow teachers to write notes and other classroom materials on the board with the use of a wireless keyboard. This allows teachers to roam around the classroom and take a more hands-on approach because they are not restricted to only teaching in the front of the class. This hands-on approach is important in foreign language courses because it allows teachers to correct pronunciation and help students out.  

Reference Materials

A SMARTboard can also be used to show students various reference materials. In a foreign language classroom this is helpful because students are able to see examples of the language they are learning in action. Newspaper clips, TV news clips and movies can all be played on the screen and students can see the language they are learning in action.

SMARTboards can help students all over the world take a more hands-on approach to learning any foreign language.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: General, Teaching Methods Tagged With: , ,