Provided by George Edmonds

10 different techniques for using music in the classroom to engage students, ranging from using music to aid concentration in writing tasks, using songs in exercises and getting pupils to create songs and raps to demonstrate learning.

1. Playing music during writing exercise or group work
2. Using a different style of music each week to reflect topics.
3. Using songs as part of classroom exercises
4. Creating songs to demonstrate learning
5. Creating songs to remember definitions, acronyms, mnemonics
6. Using motivational music to wake them up, get them pumped
7. Using short clips to get attention or stress a point
8. Creating personal connections.
9. Birthdays
10. Introducing a new topic/subject

 

The full PowerPoint is available in the 15 minute forum file in staff academic.

Provided by Andy Cawthray

The use of AB Tutor regularly will promote sensible use of computers during a lesson based in an ICT room.

By regular and confident use of AB Tutor pupils will get used to the idea of the teacher being in full control of what happens on the computers.

This can be done through several techniques whilst using AB Tutor:

• Locking screens to get attention/quieten class
• Demo/model work to be done in the pupil screens – show skills, or what you expect from the pupils
• Close programs – if student is not doing what they are supposed to be AB Tutor allows the user to close the program e.g. looking at the Internet when they should be working on Word – close Explorer/block explorer
• Log students off computers if not doing as told / or forget to log off
• Chat – teacher can chat to a student via a window on screen – can be useful to gently remind students to stay on task
• Questions – use polls to get feedback from students on whether they have met learning objectives
• Watch students screens – individually or all at once via a grid – can be useful to show the students this so they are aware that you can see their screens – this should stop students going on to software/looking at things on the internet that is not work related.
• Sharing screens – take over a student screen and model what they should be doing/or correct errors they have made whilst they watch on their screen.
• Showing example good work by a pupil on the whiteboard – take over student screen and move window to white board screen – discuss good features of the student work – other pupils get to see what others are doing.

 

Through regular use students become used to the teacher being in control of the computers, this helps with behaviour management and encourages all students to ensure they are working well during the lesson – they become very aware that the teacher can see their screens and will if necessary control their computers.

 

Provided by Bev Saunder

Textiles

Year Seven make juggling balls

I have made up samples of each step of the process of making juggling balls from cutting out the pattern to over sewing the top.

At the start of each lesson I do a briefing of how to do a particular stage – explain verbally

I then show them the samples

I put the written instructions on the screen.

This is to ensure that all members of the class know what to do – whether they listened, read or looked at the screen with the written instructions.

When they move on a stage they have to recheck the screen, ask a friend, then look at samples before they ask the immortal words I love to hear “what do I do now?”

I do this for all textile products.

 

In food I do a similar thing – if there is a new skill I want the students to learn –I demonstrate it – so this week Year 10 have been learning how to make flaky pastry – so I showed them how, I told them how to make it and the written instructions were on the screen.

Also rather than putting my head in everyone’s oven, when the first person’s food is ready, they take it out and I get everyone round and describe to them how to tell if their food is cooked – they then have to make the decision and work independently.