Archive for January, 2013

Embedding Slide Presentations in OpenClass

My mother made me say it, even when I didn’t want to say it. “Thank you.” I was forced to write thank you cards, call and say thank you, and to say thank you to people I didn’t know who complimented her by complimenting me. I disliked it very much as a child, but now, I think that “Thank you” is the most important phrase in my vocabulary.

What does this have to do with teaching? Simply this – say thank you! It can make you seem more affable to your students, and can even begin to make you feel more appreciative when interacting with them.

Here is an easy way to use this grateful phrase and enhance group discussions at the same time. When you ask a question to the whole class, after each response (right or wrong), say “Thank you. Who else?” You don’t affirm the answer, but you do affirm the answerer, which encourages more learners to attempt an answer.

It might look like this.
Instructor: “What did Jesus mean when He said, ‘Blessed are the meek.’
Student 1: “I think He meant that you don’t have to be strong to be blessed.”
Instructor (NOT laughing): “Thank you. Who else?”
Student 2: “I always thought it meant that Christians have to be meek if we want to survive the Rapture.”
Instructor (NOT cringing): “Thank you. Someone else.”
Student 3: “Doesn’t it have something to do with, like, not being overpowering or a bully?”
Instructor (encouraged): “Thank you. One more.”
Student 4: “I think it has more to do with being humble and submissive to God.”
Instructor (hopeful): Thank you all for your responses. Let’s take a look at this Beatitude.”

“Thank you” thus creates a safe context for students to think, guess, and risk embarrassment of being wrong. The risk is minimized because your response becomes welcomingly neutral. After fielding a few answers, without calling on anyone as the right or wrong answerer, go on with your lesson. You may be surprised how, after a week or two, students become much more willing to participate in class discussions, all because you followed your mother’s advice and said, “Thank you.”

PowerPoint and Keynote: Improving Your Design and Delivery
http://youtu.be/wRZHRUJ_bHA