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F2F Instructional Strategies

In this discussion forum share what you have learned about face to face instructional strategies. What do you plan to implement into your classroom? What do you already do in your classroom that was covered in the lecture?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Miaomiao Cui on October 17, 2011 at 8:37pm

I have learned many face to face instructional strategies, such as identify, explain, match,retell, skit, design, organize, chart and demonstrate etc.. I like to use identify, explain, speak and write, retell and design in my classroom. But now the different things I want to do in my classroom is tried to use "connect" which means I want to use google docs and google readers and other methods to prompt my teaching and students' learning.

Permalink Reply by Dilys Gibbs-Harrison on November 5, 2011 at 12:12am

Hi Carrie!

I have really learned alot in my 811 class. My school doesn't have a lot of access to computers and computer programs. This class has made me want to create them to use in my class. The one thing I can do quite quickly is revise the PowerPoints that come with the teacher editions. The class has taught me how to make a more eye catching presentation. I just with I had more time to do it for all my textbooks. I really like the Wikis. I am going to discuss the possibilites with my class.

Permalink Reply by Aubrey McClain on November 5, 2011 at 7:34pm

I don't know how old your students are, but my 7th graders are starting a Wiki to use to develop a problem statement and solution piece of writing. They are so excited. I teach students in poverty and they often do not have this kind of technology at home. I hope your class gets as excited as mine about the Wiki!

Permalink Reply by jason on November 5, 2011 at 12:59pm

When focusing on F2F strategies I was curious about the screencast application in the classroom. I am excited to learn more about this as I am always repeating myself.

In the music rehearsal setting, F2F is a must when dealing with full group rehearsals. This is where we take all the individual parts and blend them together to create one cohesive piece. I do use some technological resources in rehearsals. Though it isn't new I use a projector for tuning instruments. Before we have a tuner in the front or hand-held and the students would play the note and I would tell them if they are sharp/flat or in tune. Sometimes I would ask them what they think by what they heard. In this process they didn't visualize there sound.

With our iPad2 and a few great music apps we're able to project the tuner onto the board for all to see. They start at one end and proceed to the last person in the row. They can see if they are near or far from the pitch they desire. They are then able to see if they merely need to adjust the instrument or themselves. Now that they are used to the process, I don't even need to "lead" them and can take attendance, fix instruments or hand out music while they tune on their own.

Permalink Reply by Christina Snyder on November 5, 2011 at 2:28pm

Two years ago my classroom was equipped with an LCD projector (connected to my computer) and an interactive whiteboard. What I have found that has changed immensely as a result is my ability to use short video clips to help students understand what I am teaching. The entertainment factor of the clips I choose really captures the students' attention and breaks up the period. Unfortunately, as other posts have mentioned, I have not had adequate training on my IWB to use it, which is very disappointing. What I would like to do with my IWB is use it to show students how to edit their own writing (I teach English). I already do this via the computer and a word document being put up on the screen, but I would love to try having the kids interact with the board by getting up there and using the "pens" to edit their/example work.

Permalink Reply by Aubrey McClain on November 5, 2011 at 7:32pm

I teach writing as well. Do you use Smart Technologies? I have some ideas and things I could share with you from the smart board. I will email you. I, too, have found that using the smart board in my classroom has my students highly engaged. They love to come up to the board and write or manipulate. They REALLY love the anagram game for their vocabulary words. I will send you what I have!

Permalink Reply by Amy Nichols on November 8, 2011 at 4:43pm

Our district just added LCDs in our classrooms, and we are just getting used to this technology. I think the screencast/video clip notion (created using programs like Camtasia) is going to be one that we will be exploring.

We also have Blackboard -- an LMS -- and are finding that we will be using the IWB feature that lets us save the session and then upload it to Blackboard so kids can review it later, or kids that are absent can access the information they missed. It's really exciting to tie all the technologies together.

Permalink Reply by Jessica Smith on November 5, 2011 at 6:31pm

One strategy that I have already used is an online poll. I created an online survey for my 4th-6th grade technology classes to see what technologies they were familiar with at the start of the school year. Google provides easy templates to create your poll and all the answers are imported into an excel file for easy review and analysis.

I have also created screencasts and posted them on my technology blog for days when I know I am going to be absent from school. This allows for the students to continue working on assignments when a substitute teacher is present. I have the sub project the screencast for the class and inform the students that it is on the blog if they need to watch it again.

One F2F instructional strategy I would like to try is podcasting. I would like to have students bring a finished draft of a piece of writing and have the students record themselves reading their stories. I would like to set up a site where all these podcasts would be available for students to listen to their own stories along with their peers stories.

Permalink Reply by Aubrey McClain on November 5, 2011 at 7:36pm

I think that is the greatest thing EVER! I really want to learn to use screen casts in order to do what you do. I hate leaving assignments with a sub that I feel really have no value to me or my students. I think the students would appreciate this more as well. Thanks for the idea!

Permalink Reply by Aubrey McClain on November 5, 2011 at 7:30pm

There were tons of goodies in this lecture. I would like to use voice thread in my classroom. I would also like to use screen casts and the like. One of my biggest issues is explaining and explaining again and again on how to do something-especially when it comes to technology. So, I am planning on using screen casts to record step-by-step directions for my students to go back and revisit. I already use blogs, emails and chats in my classroom. I also use Google forms and my smart board. I am looking forward to incorporating more technology into my classroom. My 7th graders have started a Wiki in small groups to write a problem statement and solution piece. They are more excited than ever to do a piece of writing! I know that by learning this technology my students are going to benefit.

Permalink Reply by Lauren Pate on November 8, 2011 at 9:42pm

That's a neat idea to record the directions. That will make for better use of the limited classroom time. I will definitely have to try that. You can also have handouts with screen shots from jing, but that can require a lot of paper and copying, but it relieves technical difficulties and students can work on the computer and look at the paper the same time.

Permalink Reply by Mary Worrell on November 6, 2011 at 8:23am

I enjoy using technology for question and answer and generally giving feedback. For example, Google Forms is a great way to solicit feedback from students at different stages of assessment. I've used Google Forms to allow students to self-assess their work and to provide feedback for another classmate's work. I also use forms for quizzes and as a 21st century "exit slip" at the end of a class period.