Organization of materials.
I teach a intensive hands on class and have many "props". All of these are organized by type on a table for easy access.
As an Adjunct Instructor, I have to move quickly to set up my classroom. I have a roller bag with compartments and I call this my "mobile" classroom. I have no office. My roller bag has to be organized, so I can be ready to teach each class.
James, Indeed true. It's great to be able to get a good start to the day by ensuring that your classroom is setup and ready to go when you're ready to teach.
Dr. Melissa Read
the more props you have in the room when you start a lecture saves time from running around trying to find the ones you need for that part of the lecture. Having every thing you need in the classroom when you start saves time.
I have done the same thing. When too many props or hands-on materials to be used: what I do is lecture of the props and then we start utilizing the hands-on method. Students need to know what the devices he or she going to use and why the devices are being used as well.
I truly believe in on hands props because many of the students tend to focus on the purpose of the technique of the task and then understand the theory of the task in sync.
My classes are a combination of lecture supported by props and actual hands-on lab. Not only are my lecture props organized in small bins in a cabinet for easy retrieval but my handouts, study guides and key-terms lists organized in sections based on the order in which I present them.
I too have many "props" as my courses are hands on. We also break up class as far as certain days for lecture and certain days for hands-on.
