Weekend Classroom Set-up

My self evaluation project started last year. I am an Instructional Assistant with a concurrent Instructor appointment and I was teaching trades students. Classes of 18 students are attended by a diverse group of adult learners. They come from automotive, Heavy Mechanical, Carpentry and Motorcycle Marine. Each Monday a new group to train and I start the four day specialty training. My project planning completed, a Motorcycle Marine Technician class was coming up next. I worked over the weekend to set up.

The Welding building classroom has tables and chairs for each student. A projector, Smart board, computer, dvd  player, sound system and white boards. The classroom has welding related posters, table of elements, learning affirmations.

I borrowed a camera, tripod and wireless microphone from the Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning. I only changed the transmitter batteries. I should have done both units.

I moved the desks over to get a better camera angle of the students and instructional media surfaces. Every student`s life experience contributes to the whole group and will be my foundation.

I placed the transmitter microphone in the ceiling tile back from the front. Verses wearing the unit. It proved to highlight student voices during class. Their voices are heard more clearly on the footage.

I needed to prepare the tear off presentation board for Monday morning. I covered these welding processes to be reveled one by one, when students guessed correctly during the lesson.

Non-projected Media in the Classroom

     The original version used chalk but vertical surfaces for Instructor to write notes, draw pictures or help students see what is discussed are in every classroom around the world. I am tapping in to all the potential of whiteboard use but there is more for me to discover. I know not to stand in front of what I am writing or drawing on the whiteboard. A classroom I have used even has a smartboard.  so here is the next version of the writing surface brought to us by technology is here. Non-projected media controlling projected media for the good of all. I even learned how to draw a basketball and hoop. Then throw the ball across the smartboard into the basket. Always gets a cheer from students. I feel that this form of classroom tool may become more advanced but will be at the front of the classroom for I while longer. I heard that flipped classroom design may have whiteboards on all walls that students and Instructor use together.

Please take a moment (4mins.) to listen to my thoughts on the value of whiteboard in the classroom.

Whiteboards - Classroom Tool for Learning  PODCAST

One of my Blogging cohorts has a great page on classroom ideas:

Liz's Lessons - 8 great ways to use whiteboards 

My favorite idea is having all students use a small whiteboard in class. She offers several exercises.

A student's doodle on a shop whiteboard