Technology and Television Teaching

Works4Me presents weekly practical classroom tips from real experts -- your colleagues!

1. Teaching with TV

From S. Ranea Wright, a teacher in Sacramento, California:

"My earliest memories of television being used as a teaching tool was when we went to the cafeteria together with several other classes to watch Mr. Wizard as part of our science lesson for that week. Yes, this dates me back to the sixties, but I remember those programs vividly because I was very much a visual and kinesthetic learner.

Today, as a teacher, television is still a valuable tool. I have used the History Channel series such as The Revolution to reinforce lessons in the text. As a follow up activity, students were given a person of that time to portray in our class Town Meeting to decide to side with the Loyalists or the Patriots. We worked on propaganda posters to reinforce our positions, and those posters were displayed around the room.

Television programming can act as an invaluable tool in the classroom, and I am glad to see that we no longer have to take our classes en masse to the cafeteria, but instead can utilize this technology tool in our own classrooms as needed. Visual / auditory reinforcement of lessons provides another avenue in which teachers can present information, and allows for increased enthusiasm from the students."
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2. Life in the 1900's

From Kelly Everding, a Region 19 Chair:

"A few years ago PBS had a series of shows called 1900 House. I use it with my students every year so show changes in family life at the turn of the century. It is great because it combines reality TV with very historical lessons and the kids really seem to get into it."
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3. Question of the Week: Celebrating Thanksgiving

From the Worker Bees:

"What interdisciplinary activities do you use to help your students learn about and celebrate Thanksgiving?"
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4. Grant for Computers

Heard Last Week in the Works4Me Lounge:

"I run ten alternative education programs for disruptive youth ages 12-18 in Pennsylvania. We are in need of computer technology and resources, donations, grants etc. to set up small computer labs for our kids. Does anyone know of any grants or resources we can attempt to acquire?"
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