Online Presentations
- Mr. Gyles
- Jun 10, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 10, 2020
We’ve all been there. The laser pointer, the clicker, and a monotone blue background on Powerpoint. High School or University these methods are not the best way of keeping students engaged. What needs to change. With all the technological advances things have changed. There are better and more engaging ways of having students take part in class and the tools are all around us. Now after surfing the web for ideas I have come across new tools that explore how they work and different ways teachers can keep students engaged with technology. Smartphones. How often can I remember sending off a Snapchat or firing a quick text in the back of the class. These little handheld devices are a distraction don't get me wrong, but, as some teachers call them the biggest distraction ever, others see them as the greatest tool ever created. Although there is a time and place for everything Smartphones connect students to learning. There are tons of apps like kahoot or mentimeter that allow students to use their smartphones to answer questions during your teaching and are perfect for formative assessment (Cullen, 2017). They are anonymous, fun, and use technology to engage students in a new and refreshing way. Furthermore, Mentimeter Quiz Competitions test your students’ knowledge in new and interesting ways. You can create your own quiz or use one of their templates to add energy in the classroom while keeping the focus on learning (Mentimeter, 2020). By having mini-quizzes throughout lessons you have the ability to gauge where students are and allow for more time to be allocated to a certain topic. It gives you a quick and easy assessment of learning and allows for the integration of technology into the classroom.
What is also important when using online presentations for learning is having student interests incorporated to keep your content relevant (Cullen, 2017). If students can connect to something they see they are more likely to stay engaged. For example, they might have watched Tiger King (who hasn’t) or have a particular interest in pop culture. You can use this information to create relevant lessons while establishing a positive student-teacher relationship (Cullen, 2017). By adding something familiar to their life be it through memes or TikTocs the students will find value and be more engaged with the lesson. In addition to techniques they may work there are also tons of platforms that enhance online presentations. For example, nearpod allows teachers to easily create interactive classes using different multimedia contents like images, videos, quizzes, polls, and other activities that are relevant to the lesson (McVicker, 2017). What is awesome about NearPod teachers can monitor students in real time and is a great tool for distance learning. You can easily assign self-paced lessons and synchronize learning during live instruction (Nearpod.com). To
To find more alternative online learning platforms click the link below:
Signing off,
Mr. Gyles.
References
Cullen, E. (2017). 8 tactics for keeping your students engaged during lectures. Retrieved from https://www.mentimeter.com/blog/interactive-classrooms/tactics-for-keeping-your-students-engaged-during-lectures McVicker, D. (2020). 7 Alternative Technology in the Classroom Presentation Tools. Retrieved from https://www.teachhub.com/7-alternative-technology-classroom-presentation-tools Mentimeter.com. (2020). Retrieved from https://nearpod.com/ NearPod.com. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.mentimeter.com/why
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