Traditions

By Ralph Tolbert, Educational Technology Consultant ()

Traditions, as Tevya in The Fiddler on the Roof sings, will always be with us in our families, our personalities and our classrooms. Many topics in our classes are taught in the traditional way because that's how I learned, it works or it has always been done that way (my personal favorite). These traditional methods are excellent in many circumstances, but don't limit your students if they come up with new ways to cover traditional material.

A good example is the use of technology (of course) in an English classroom where the students, instead of just reading the selected poems and having class discussions, use a camcorder to record their poetry reading at a location representing the poem, edit the video on a computer and then create a DVD with their video that includes their interpretation of the author's meaning. As an added feature, a director's cut section on the DVD could also contain outtakes showing mistakes during taping. These DVDs would make a great addition to their student portfolio as well as adding to the technical skills needed for future communication in the "real world" after graduation.

Schools in northeastern Ohio are instituting visual communications classes in addition to the traditional English classroom where the students produce content for their school video network and Web site. These types of classes offer an alternative classroom approach for students who do not always do well writing, researching and testing in the traditional way. In visual communications studies, they write the video scripts, interview people and edit the tape, follow project timelines and work independently or with groups.

Time, availability of equipment and administration and staff support are key elements necessary to succeed in creating new traditions. However, the rewards will be worth it when students who were "breathers only" in your class show communication, organization and life skills in the use of technology to complete their English assignments.

These ideas are not limited to just an English class. You and your students will benefit from incorporating technology in your classroom. So the art teacher's students can produce a CD with their artwork, which is an excellent addition to a college application. The science class uses a digital camera and PowerPoint to show plants found on a field trip.

Now wouldn't you want to be the teacher who started the new traditions?

P.S.: Be sure to read Dave Benson's column, "Lights! Camera! Action!" about student video contests. The Web site for information on the student video contest is located at http://www4.osn.state.oh.us/stateconf2004/proposals.php#lights. And check out PBS 45 & 49's Web site for additional information at http://wneo.org/video/default.htm.