Entering my first week of placement with my grade 6 class, I was nothing but eager to introduce and implement the many digitally interactive lessons that I had prepared. As for the students, they were anxious and excited to be my guinea pigs! Before I discuss some ways in which I incorporated media in my classroom, I will briefly share the importance of media in the classroom, and some tips that I quickly discovered during my placement experience. Why use media in the classroom? Media can be used in almost any discipline to enhance learning, both in class, and out of-class assignments. Short videos and television clips, written articles, and blog postings can be viewed to reinforce concepts and spark further discussion. Songs and music videos, especially when the lyrics are made available, can be used to the same effect. Research suggests that people learn abstract, new, and novel concepts more easily when they are presented in both verbal and visual form (Salomon, 1979). Advantages of using media in the classroom Using media sources during lessons can help interest, engage, and connect learners. Students can interact with one another and share their learning, through a variety of different digital platforms. For example, popular media (films, music, etc.) can be used to gain attention and maintain student interest in class discussions. Students can analyze their favourite media sources by taking a deeper look, or different approach in understanding content. In doing so, students can see concepts and new examples when they are watching television, listening to music, or at the movies with friends. Students can also experience worlds beyond their own, using media to spark their unknown imagination. In Willingham's (2009) research he asks, "Why do students remember everything that's on television and forget what we lecture?" – as global research has proven, this is because visual media helps students retain concepts and ideas. Bransford, Browning, and Cocking (1999, p 194) also discuss the crucial role that technology plays for creating learning environments that enhance the possibilities of media, such as movies, documentaries, television shows and music into new areas that require interactive learning like visualizations and student-created content. Tips that I learned when using media
When did I incorporate media in my lessons?
As I mentioned previously, I was extremely eager to incorporate and test out different media platforms with my grade 6’s. Well, now I am just as eager to share them with you! Here are some examples of media used in my lessons:
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