Comments on: 5 ways to make ‘textbook lessons’ more interesting http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/01/22/5-ways-to-make-textbook-lessons-more-interesting/ Education. Technology. Productivity. Wed, 23 May 2012 07:20:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Anonymous http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/01/22/5-ways-to-make-textbook-lessons-more-interesting/comment-page-1/#comment-5861 Anonymous Sat, 20 Jun 2009 03:09:00 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/2008/01/22/5-ways-to-make-textbook-lessons-more-interesting/#comment-5861 Back in August 2008, a mere month after the iPhone was released, I published my list of apps that I used. I had quite a list back then and still have the personal rule that I won’t have more than 4 pages of apps since it’s too hard to find them. I try to organize them by most used kept on the front page, <a href="http://www.chasereviews.com" rel="nofollow">www.chase.com</a> especially now that the iphone allows you to use the home button to flip to that first page. Here is what I currently have on the iPhone, other than the included apps. You’ll find that there really aren’t any games on here. I prefer my games full screen on my PC or plasma TV rather than shrunk down, but to each his own. Back in August 2008, a mere month after the iPhone was released, I published my list of apps that I used. I had quite a list back then and still have the personal rule that I won’t have more than 4 pages of apps since it’s too hard to find them. I try to organize them by most used kept on the front page, http://www.chase.com especially now that the iphone allows you to use the home button to flip to that first page. Here is what I currently have on the iPhone, other than the included apps. You’ll find that there really aren’t any games on here. I prefer my games full screen on my PC or plasma TV rather than shrunk down, but to each his own.

]]> By: Doug Belshaw http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/01/22/5-ways-to-make-textbook-lessons-more-interesting/comment-page-1/#comment-338 Doug Belshaw Sat, 26 Jan 2008 21:57:16 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/2008/01/22/5-ways-to-make-textbook-lessons-more-interesting/#comment-338 Thanks for the comments Dan and Russel: <strong>@Dan:</strong> You're absolutely right about textbooks being full of errors. I can't go into specifics for obvious reasons, but it's something that I'm wrestling with at the moment. Students really do need to have a range of stimulii. To rest on one 'definitive' resource provides them with a distorted view of the world in the 21st century. <strong>@Russel:</strong> Glad you've found the post helpful! Have you any tips to share? :-) Thanks for the comments Dan and Russel:

@Dan: You’re absolutely right about textbooks being full of errors. I can’t go into specifics for obvious reasons, but it’s something that I’m wrestling with at the moment. Students really do need to have a range of stimulii. To rest on one ‘definitive’ resource provides them with a distorted view of the world in the 21st century.

@Russel: Glad you’ve found the post helpful! Have you any tips to share? :-)

]]> By: Russel Montgomery http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/01/22/5-ways-to-make-textbook-lessons-more-interesting/comment-page-1/#comment-337 Russel Montgomery Sat, 26 Jan 2008 04:08:48 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/2008/01/22/5-ways-to-make-textbook-lessons-more-interesting/#comment-337 Doug Thanks for this and the 7 tips for productivity. For the ones that I already use...thnx for the confirmation. For the new ideas. Thanks. Much appreciated. Russel Montgomery Doug

Thanks for this and the 7 tips for productivity.

For the ones that I already use…thnx for the confirmation.

For the new ideas. Thanks. Much appreciated.

Russel Montgomery

]]> By: Dan Moorhouse http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/01/22/5-ways-to-make-textbook-lessons-more-interesting/comment-page-1/#comment-339 Dan Moorhouse Thu, 24 Jan 2008 07:46:32 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/2008/01/22/5-ways-to-make-textbook-lessons-more-interesting/#comment-339 One of the things I learnt very quickly when I started working alongside established authors was that very few people ever seem to use the textbook in the way it was intended to be used... Based on that: Read the teachers guide and accompanying notes, if its a decent enough prodct it will include variations and ideas for incorporating the materials into a more intereesting lesson. Dip into the content and use engaging methods to ge kids wanting to read / find. For example, have a research race... pupils in groups. 10 introductory questions... they can only get number 2 once they've shown the correct answer to number 1... box of choccies for the winning group.... all of a sudden, you've got a class using the index / contents page and wanting to find out what happened etc... As Doug suggests, move from the textbook to something else, then back again. Using sources as stimulus for an active learning exercise works well - another history example - see thinkinghistory.co.uk for a pile of exercises devised to work alongside textbooks. The move towards digitised textbooks is bringing in lots of potential for supporting IT based activities. Certainly in history this makes it really easy to differentiate and there's scope to make really easy but effective use of relevant video clips, podcasts etc... If you're lucky enough to have more than one textbook on the topic you're teaching, have all of them available. it allows more flexibility; can lead to activities being created that aren't reliant on one book and opens up opportunities for a) double checking of facts (they often disagree!) b) interpretations and it also allows pupils to select the text that they feel most comfortable with. One of the things I learnt very quickly when I started working alongside established authors was that very few people ever seem to use the textbook in the way it was intended to be used…

Based on that:

Read the teachers guide and accompanying notes, if its a decent enough prodct it will include variations and ideas for incorporating the materials into a more intereesting lesson.

Dip into the content and use engaging methods to ge kids wanting to read / find. For example, have a research race… pupils in groups. 10 introductory questions… they can only get number 2 once they’ve shown the correct answer to number 1… box of choccies for the winning group…. all of a sudden, you’ve got a class using the index / contents page and wanting to find out what happened etc…

As Doug suggests, move from the textbook to something else, then back again. Using sources as stimulus for an active learning exercise works well – another history example – see thinkinghistory.co.uk for a pile of exercises devised to work alongside textbooks.

The move towards digitised textbooks is bringing in lots of potential for supporting IT based activities. Certainly in history this makes it really easy to differentiate and there’s scope to make really easy but effective use of relevant video clips, podcasts etc…

If you’re lucky enough to have more than one textbook on the topic you’re teaching, have all of them available. it allows more flexibility; can lead to activities being created that aren’t reliant on one book and opens up opportunities for a) double checking of facts (they often disagree!) b) interpretations and it also allows pupils to select the text that they feel most comfortable with.

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