Today's Teaching Tools
Click on the image to go to the interactive version of this flowchart!
I was quite nervous, but I had prepared my lesson well. This would be the first class that I would teach on my own. It was a large group and they were infamous for being a rowdy bunch. I waited for them at the door and greeted each student. When I started class, I told my students I was quite nervous, and that I wanted to try something new with them. It caught their attention. I said I wanted to try to use ict-tools, so that all of them could work on their own pace and on their own level. "If you think an assignment doesn't fit you in a way, please raise your hand, so we can try to make it interesting for you, too."
I had prepared my lesson in such a way that I could use several ict-tools to support collaborative learning, to quiz my students now and then, and so that I was able to provide them with lots of feedback (and compliments!). During the collaborative assignments, I could see what all my students were doing (we used Google Docs). I added comments to their work, gave them compliments, and provided them with some input on how they could improve their work. Towards end of the lesson, I had given all my students feedback. I could see their faces brighten up every time I left a comment, and I noticed students working harder whenever I gave them tips on how to improve their work. A final interactive quiz was the end of class. Within 50 minutes, all students had worked really hard, they had all received feedback, they all tested if they knew what they had to learn, and I managed to personally address each of them.
At the end of the lesson, just before the bell rang, I thanked this wonderful group of students. I told them that I was very content with how they had done their best, how I could see that everyone tried, and that I was grateful that they were willing to try this new method of working with me. Out of nowhere, all students got up and gave me a standing ovation. I couldn't help but blush; there I was at the start of my career in education. This first, very important lesson, I learnt two things: 1. Every student needs and deserves to be and feel seen, and 2. Ict-tools can support this.
I had prepared my lesson in such a way that I could use several ict-tools to support collaborative learning, to quiz my students now and then, and so that I was able to provide them with lots of feedback (and compliments!). During the collaborative assignments, I could see what all my students were doing (we used Google Docs). I added comments to their work, gave them compliments, and provided them with some input on how they could improve their work. Towards end of the lesson, I had given all my students feedback. I could see their faces brighten up every time I left a comment, and I noticed students working harder whenever I gave them tips on how to improve their work. A final interactive quiz was the end of class. Within 50 minutes, all students had worked really hard, they had all received feedback, they all tested if they knew what they had to learn, and I managed to personally address each of them.
At the end of the lesson, just before the bell rang, I thanked this wonderful group of students. I told them that I was very content with how they had done their best, how I could see that everyone tried, and that I was grateful that they were willing to try this new method of working with me. Out of nowhere, all students got up and gave me a standing ovation. I couldn't help but blush; there I was at the start of my career in education. This first, very important lesson, I learnt two things: 1. Every student needs and deserves to be and feel seen, and 2. Ict-tools can support this.
At the end of the lesson, just before the bell rang, I thanked this wonderful group of students. I told them that I was very content with how they had done their best, how I could see that everyone tried, and that I was grateful that they were willing to try this new method of working with me. Out of nowhere, all students got up and gave me a standing ovation. I couldn't help but blush; there I was at the start of my carreer in education. This first, very important lesson, I learnt two things: 1. Every student needs and deserves to be and feel seen, and 2. Ict-tools can support this.
With this in mind, I started to develop a website that can help and support colleagues who want to use ict-tools in education. I try to publish as much freely available information as I possibly can to support you. The website in Dutch is somewhat more elaborate, but I do try to translate as much of my work as I can, to be able to help teachers all over the world.
Do you have any questions for me? Please feel free to fill out the contact form!
With this in mind, I started to develop a website that can help and support colleagues who want to use ict-tools in education. I try to publish as much freely available information as I possibly can to support you. The website in Dutch is somewhat more elaborate, but I do try to translate as much of my work as I can, to be able to help teachers all over the world.
Do you have any questions for me? Please feel free to fill out the contact form!