Get the RSS feed | Jeff Edmonds Archives

Pre-Recording Lessons Provides 1-on-1 Time
by Jeff Edmonds


A couple of weeks ago, I was trying to figure out how I could get more one-on-one time with my students in 7th Grade. I was feeling that looking over their homework, giving periodic quizzes, and asking them questions in front of their peers during lectures weren't providing me with reliable feedback regarding individual comprehension of the algebra skills we were working on. In middle school math, not understanding Tuesday's material prevents a student from mastering Wednesday's, so I wanted to find a way to manage the classroom that would allow me time to speak with each student individually but not keep students from learning new material that day as well.

Thanks to software that allows me to record the strokes of my stylus and audio at the same time, I've been able to create pre-recorded lessons that I can email to my students ahead of time. They bring their headphones to class and plug them in, open the file from their inbox, and begin listening and watching the lesson on their laptops. Students pause to work problems and then continue playing to compare their work to mine, making adjustments and corrections as needed. While students are engaged in the lesson, I'm able to make my way around the room, visiting with each student. I've managed to find time to ask each student to show me his or her homework, answer any homework questions, and I've even been able to have students work one or two problems and explain their process right in front of me. After circling the room, I usually still have time to give group notes or answer any questions at the end of the period, before sending them on their way.

This type of lesson isn't something I'd do every day, but I now know I have a lesson format to use when I need some time with each student, whether to address concerns or check for understanding. I’ve also been reminded that hearing a student explain and demonstrate a process is a much better indicator of their understanding than simply looking at their homework.

 

 

About Jeff

Jeff Edmonds teaches middle school mathematics at the Catherine Cook School in Chicago, IL. Catherine Cook’s middle school is in its third year of a one-to-one laptop program. As part of this program, students use their HP tablet computers and programs such as DyKnow, every day and in almost every class period.

  • Anonymous on Fri, 05/21/2010 - 10:11

    It's great to see someone "getting more" out of the face time they have with students, and I completely agree with your philosophy. What software are you using to accomplish this?

    I teach at Eastern Michigan University, and am using Panopto to do Lecture Capture. Actually, it could easily be called Presentation Capture because I use it to not only capture lectures for students to review later, but I can develop learning modules for students to view at home in preparation for discussions in class; similar to what you're doing, apparently. Do you have any examples we might be able to view?

    In case you're interested, here is a link to a "learning module" I created that prepares students for a practical experience in class. Students appreciate it because it allow them to take their time reviewing the material, and they can go back to see it again and again in case they need clarification on a point.

    http://frankfedel.hosted.panopto.com/CourseCast/Viewer/Default.aspx?id=e...

  • Anonymous on Thu, 05/20/2010 - 17:18

    This sounds interesting. What software do you use for the pre-recording?

    • Post new comment