Sign Language and SRS

I have just stumbled on to the work of Rick Morris, in particular his use of the one handed American sign language in his regular classroom.

To paraphrase, Rick gets his students to use the signs for "I" (for I have a question), "A" (For I have an answer), and "C" (for I have a comment), when they their hands. In a small group this lets him prioritise his dialogue with his students and helps with the flow of his lesson. He has added more sign language in his classroom to help with other management issues.

This has to be one of the most useful and practical teaching techniques I have seen in a long time and I'm keen to try it out next time I'm training a group.



How dose this relate to clickers?


One thing that many people forget is the "?" button on many Student/Audience Response Systems. On TurningPoint it silently but visually cues up people who would like to ask a question or make a comment - the teacher/trainer/lecturer at any time can pull up the list and see who is next to ask their question or to comment.
If you use Responseware, those questions can also be written by the participant so that in large groups they don't have to stand up and be heard (embarrassing for some and logistically difficult with AV and large rooms).

Computer Tutorials

From XKCD.com - so very true.


So often someone will give me a mobile phone and say - "You're a techie/computer person can you fix this for me?"

I wish I had this in my pocket to give them.

Sometimes though some people do really want to learn, but you just don't have the time to help them every step of the way.

I learn best through a combination of tutorials, pictorials and project based or problem solving. So if you have someone who wants to learn "computers" try pointing them in these directions.

There are some good JAVA and .net tutorials as well.

http://www.homeandlearn.co.uk/index.html

http://www.techtutorials.net/index.html

http://inpics.net/index.html - I like this one becase it has step by step pictures.

http://www.baycongroup.com/tutorials.htm

free online room planner

One of my "stumbleupons" came up with this: roomfulexpress

It's an online room / space planner.

This would be a great way to map out your classroom or school office and it works nicely with IWB's. Gives your students the overhead perspective on things.

It also has some nice outdoor objects, prints without logging in doesn't save unless you set up an account. Also all measurements are in feet and inches - so a maths activity to convert to metric would be in order.