My students are working on a project where they develop a product idea and a marketing campaign while also engaging in hard conversations about the downside of consumerism, marketing and propaganda. They tend to enjoy this project so far (just as the group last quarter did). Walk into my classroom right now and you'll get the sense that everyone is on-task. Most of the students seem excited about the project. However, here's a hard reality: I'm not enjoying it all that much. I know, I know. It's my chance to be the "guide on the side." I'm walking around asking reflective questions, helping students think through their process. I'm having some great conversations. However, I am also spending time helping students trouble-shoot technology. I'm re-explaining the directions I have already given. I'm double-checking to see that students aren't getting frustrated and giving up. The truth is that I enjoy whole group interaction more. It wears me out, but it's more fun to direct a whole class in a discussion instead of breaking it into small groups or having the discussion occur online. I enjoy doing direct instruction and watching them go through guided practice. It's more fun to present new information to a group than to try and determine why a student isn't getting it. It's in third period that I realize I'm bored, because I'm not being much of a teacher. I'm being a technology problem-solver. I'm being a task master. However, the time I'm spending with students isn't leading to extra learning. So, here's where I switch:
- Letting students trouble-shoot with each other
- Turning one of the whiteboards into a trouble-shooting tips area
- Holding small conferences with students and asking them reflective questions
- Wandering around the room asking questions about their products (Is this practical? Will that work? What would happen if _____?)
- Participating in the online conversations on Edmodo in real time instead of waiting until after school
Feel free to download Wendell the World's Worst Wizard. It's less than five dollars. Or you could buy the physical book (on sale right now from twelve dollars down to $10.46) and get the Kindle download for a dollar. photo credit:
hathu- via
photopin cc
