Extra material
I always have extra material ready to use if needed. It always relates to the current topic and is from interesting outside sources.
I keep a file of applicable YouTube pages to fill in when a few minutes are left at the end of class, or to break up a lecture when students get restless but are not yet ready for lab work. Often students will suggest another video which they think is relevant. Even if it turns out to be silly or irrelevant, it can open a valuable discussion.
Amanda,
I agree that games can serve as effective tools for student engagement. In addition, games also present excellent instructional opportunities and can assist with overall, student retention of information.
Tremayne Simpson
I like to keep a few tranferable games that I can use in different classes; topics like teamwork, problem-solving, etc. are great. That way if I can see that we will finish early, I can break up the lecture with a short game to keep the students engaged. In the last few moments of class we review and talk about the next class.
Sometimes I look for extra materials on Ebcohost website and my students atimes will bring various articles or topics they found on magazines that is related to the current topic in class and we all discuss it together.
I concur, that extra Material is very important and I have done similar thing as you in my class I look for articles in newspapaers or magazines that I deem that is necessary and important and related to my class and my students have found it very informative.
This is a very interesting topic for me because as a new instructor, I am doing everything I can to keep on track and help my students get something out of the every class that I teach. I am also learning as I teach because when I find course related articles, many of them have current factual information that I learn and include in my lesson plans and class discussions.
Phyllis,
Introducing course-related articles or current events can help to make the course more relevant for the students. When they are able to see the impact of the discussed topics within current events, they can further understand the importance of the topics and why they are a part of the course content.
Tremayne Simpson
Extra material is cruicial to adding value to your classroom environment. While most well written curriculums will take up most of your teaching time, there are some days when repetition is needed and having extra materials is a way to repeat compentencies that are crucial to a students learning.
Yes, I am always searching for relevant articles and materials on line to us on those days where the syllabus is a little lean. It helps me learn new material and it keeps the students interested.
anthony,
I agree. In addition "the extra material" may be useful for situations where a student requests more information on a lectured topic.
Tremayne Simpson
i agree . extended lesson plans and extra material is a must have.power point projectors do fail and the extra material is always good.
Jeffrey,
It is always a good idea to keep extra material available. I have a bank of current event-based questions (that are applicable to each lesson), that I present if a lecture ends a little earlier than expected. Sometimes the "extra" material can be more prevalent than the prepared lesson.
Tremayne Simpson
