When you're giving a lecture to a class, you're supposed to be looking at the students in the class, not a laptop or a Power Point presentation. It's a conversation class--not a class in reading from a laptop, a Power Point presentation, a teleprompter, or from anything else. Reading a speech may be fine for Mr. Obama but not for students displaying their conversational skills.
Two of the students whose photos appear on this page were actually very good about speaking directly to the class. Unfortunately, there's a fraction of a second between the instant the mind says, "Take the picture," and the finger actually takes the picture. As a result, most of the photos on this page are examples of what not to do in class.
Most of the time, she looked at the class, but I had to take several pictures of her before I took one that actually showed her talking to the class. At left, she's reading from the Power Point presentation on the laptop. At right, she's reading from the Power Point presentation on the screen.
I don't offer bonus points for pleasant smiles or rolling eyes, but they do provide a more relaxing teaching and learning environment.
I don't offer bonus points for cuteness, either.
This is more like it. Ann, at left, has stepped away from her laptop and is seen speaking directly to her classmates. She's involved and they're involved; and she's gesturing toward the Power Point presentation rather than reading from it. The student at right is still holding onto her laptop as though it were a security blanket, but she's talking directly to the class and smiling.
This is definitely a no-no. She's practically staring a hole into my laptop.
Don't do this either.
No, these students aren't lost or confused. They're involved in a demonstration that the speaker wants to prove to them. Participation is part of your grade. When a student is conducting the class, he's graded partly on how well he can get students participating in the class.
Visitors to my class have included dogs, cats, mice, and a few other small animals. They help to create a more relaxing learning environment for the students, and it's more relaxing for the teacher as well. There are limits, though. If you have a water buffalo, leave it at home.
No comments:
Post a Comment