The first Pacticum for my mentees is here and i have received so many stories ( don't want to call them reports ) regarding their classes . The stories were interesting ...a mixture of sadness , frustration , happiness , amazement and more. I love it when they tell me these things. This shows that they are actually experiencing the realities of the world of education . Something that you cannot get from text books or university lectures . You have to BE there and LIVE the moment in the classroom .
Each class , pupil or subject is unique . There is no such thing as generalization . To teach Year 3, you have to have this and this and this . This is generalizing . This is what you should NOT do . You will know how to teach the class once you enter it .
I was asked about teaching TMK (Information Technology and Communication) which involves teaching children anti virus , database etc ..facts about computers. The catch is , whatever being taught or shown cannot be practiced due to the limited capabilities of the Chrome Book that they are using . As a result , the pupils starts to lose interest after 10 minutes .They start to run around the class, playing and sit on desks "How to teach them " they asked me .
My advice is , "Teach as how you teach your in-class lessons" . Make them move , rearrange their seating....things that you do if you are having a lesson in an ordinary classroom instead of a computer laboratory .
This is an idea on how to teach the topic Anti virus in TMK . Play the 'Fox and the Hen' game . The fox is the virus and the hen is the antivirus which is trying to protect the chicks ( the files in the computer ) . Just remember that the space in the laboratory is limited so up to you to find a remedy for that .
Another topic is Database . Form a circle(s) ( or a square , triangle etc ) . In three minutes ( or after a whistle blow ) ask the pupils to ask the person on their right , their personal biodata . After that , ask the person on their left . Ask them to present in front of the class.
These two activities can be used as the induction set or attention grabber before we go to lesson proper . If we bring fun to the pupils , they will look forward to our future lessons AND hopefully more cooperative .
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