I am a computer teacher in highschool,. I am looking ways to make school more interesting & relevant. Input?

Question

Please be a part of helping make some classes more engaging for students; answer the following questions.
1. What was your favorite class in high school and why was it your favorite?

2. Did you ever have a class where you got to pick what you studied? Explain.

3. What kinds of things can a teacher do to foster more effective and open two-way communication?

4. What are some things you would suggest for students to become more actively engaged in learning and experience less boredom in school?

5. What suggestions do you have to use Multiple Intelligences learning to increase student engagement and decrease boredom in school?

6. What suggestions do you have for using technology to increase student engagement and decrease boredom in school?

7. Do you know of and/or use any sources to help promote more positive two-way communication between teachers and students?

8. Do you have any other comments or suggestions that would help high school teachers make school more interesting for students?

Answer 1

1. What was your favorite class in high school and why was it your favorite? I took an Interior Design class my senior year to avoid taking a history class. It ended up being really interesting and totally applicable to real life. Other students got tired of me answering all the questions in class, so they eventually paid more attention and tried to beat me to the punch. We were a hodge-podge of students who would never associate with one another outside of the class, but we all ended up really liking each other.

2. Did you ever have a class where you got to pick what you studied? Explain. I did in a Special Topics class. It was a joke. There were too many students who did absolutely nothing. We ended up copying notes from an overhead and then CHOOSING to learn how to play card games until class ended. I can't believe the teacher got away with that! I do know that students like getting to choose the order of what they learn, especially if they're AG students.

3. What kinds of things can a teacher do to foster more effective and open two-way communication? Treat students like they're adults. I can't stand the elementary mentality that many teachers and principals have in high schools. Setting expectations high with the idea that your students can meet them because they're adults will definitely motivate them. Ask for their imput. Introduce controversial topics into the lesson and students will talk.

4. What are some things you would suggest for students to become more actively engaged in learning and experience less boredom in school? See above. My husband teaches HS English and will often play devil's advocate with his students. If they're studying Romeo and Juliet, they'll discuss the themes more than the plot. How do you feel about teenagers having sex? What do you think about suicide? Are they really in love? What is loyalty?

5. What suggestions do you have to use Multiple Intelligences learning to increase student engagement and decrease boredom in school? Offer students a variety of projects to do for a given topic. Introduce the MI that way. Keep the class moving. Fifteen minutes of visual, 15 of kinesthetic, 15 of logical, etc.

6. What suggestions do you have for using technology to increase student engagement and decrease boredom in school? Kids are heavy into myspace and youtube. Why not have them create a page on myspace that showcases what they know about a topic? Or have them make a video to correspond with a lesson.

7. Do you know of and/or use any sources to help promote more positive two-way communication between teachers and students? I'm myself. I ask them questions about how they feel when they're getting on my nerves and/or misbehaving. There's usually a valid reason, and they seem to respect me more when I address the issue and make a sincere attempt to he.p them. Check out Ruby Payne stuff if your school hasn't already forced it down your throat. She really does have good ideas regarding communication.

8. Do you have any other comments or suggestions that would help high school teachers make school more interesting for students? Cracking jokes and talking about things that relate to them will usually do the trick. You can't win 'em all, but you sure can try. :)

Answer 2

I cannot answer all of the questions, but as a computer teacher, I will assume you teach Microsoft Office, there is a really cool book of projects using all of the softwares together, that my students love to do.

I can't recall the name of it, because it's at school, and I haven't started yet.

I have a load of resources to make assignments relevant, and engaging.

Try www.familyfinance.montana.edu - it's all free to download all of the lessons, all you need is an email. All the lessons are written out for you, with all the materials, assignments, worksheets, powerpoints, activities, test banks, etc.

email me, and I will get you the name of the book

[e-mail]

Answer 3

1. My Math Classes -- I fought to get into the higher level math classes (this was a few decades ago -- females were discouraged from attending math/science -- so I had to be part of the FIGHT to attend -- and then PROVE I belonged there in the 1st place) -- also the Science classes -- LOVED experimenting -- Chemistry, Physics, Biology, etc.

2. Yes -- was involved as a student in the 1st experiments for Gifted Studies -- we were allowed to proceed through the classes as fast as we wanted to -- so I gobbled up the Math courses and the science courses and went and had fun.

3. REACH them -- they are the video game generation and very selfish. Make it interesting and interactive -- show them how Computers work in the REAL WORLD -- that means the boring accounting programs, having them learn the formula for calculating their mortgage rates (and they will appreciate it later), doing a graphics presentation for an assignment from another course (and animating something they do), etc. Bring in Digital Photography too and teach a little of the Photoshop software from Adobe -- THAT produces quite a bit of enthusiasm and is FUN because one image can morph into MANY different Artistic points of view and they will find it very creative!

5. See the answer to number 4 -- Digital Photography combined with Adobe Photoshop and LOTS of creativity can mean some pretty startling and artistic interpretations of the SAME image -- all Great efforts in their own right!

6. Make things more interactive -- the kids like the 'whizz-bang' lots of colors, fast moving, not droll, but a Lot of graphics -- and use a lot of the Anime Characters to emphasize points -- Watch Cartoon Network on Saturday evenings to get an idea of the focus of teens nowadays -- that will help you know what anime characters to use -- even Pokemon.

7. To get my two disabled (now adult) children to learn -- I worked with them, took them to the bookstore and museums, etc and went interactive with them -- to increase reading comprehension -- find out the types of books they like and USE Them to teach reading skills -- if it is Anime -- then let them start with ANIME -- if it is boring to do geometry -- start with walkabouts -- and bring the concepts of Measuring tree height from Angles and shadow length, is the parking lot square or not -- and other good ideas. Kids will learn MORE if you are NOT just in the boring classroom but INVOLVING Them in the Activity and NOT just sitting there -- because by going outside -- you are really introducing them to CAREER Choices -- angles and measurement (Surveyor, Engineer, Scientist), Numbers (Accountant, Cost Estimator, etc), Experimentation, Interaction, etc.

8. Kids nowadays have morphed (sadly) into the following attitude/life view "What can my Country (and everyone else) DO for ME" instead of what my own generation (I am descended from a WWII Paraplegic Vet) had as their attitude/life view "What can I DO for MY country". They think the World OWES them a living, and that is what they Demand. Too much too soon, and too many POOR ideas of what the world is like. They really NEED to sacrifice, and NOT be taught the test to take the test -- but to have to LEARN Independent, Critical Thought that will provide them with the ability to live successfully through hard times and good. UNFORTUNATELY the generation in school now does NOT have those skills -- and when hard times hit them -- they will NOT be successful.

Answer 4

Well since a great deal of kids are into rap (unfortunately...) make it seem rappish or poetic computer learning

Answer 5

The main thing to remember is to treat your pupils as equals but be the boss. And wear a short skirt!!!

Answer 6

Seems to me you dont have any answers of your own do you really need people to tell you what to do maybe you need to start all over again GO BACK TO SCHOOL