'Tis a Gift to Be Simple
by David Benson, Educational Technology Consultant
Sometimes I find myself sitting at my desk reciting three lines from an old Shaker hymm. I know many of you are familiar with the phrase and as for myself, I usually recite it right around the time my computer decides to lock up. If you listen very closely you can almost hear me chanting my mantra: "'Tis a gift to be simple "
Okay, so how does this relate to education? Well, it's that time of year when our annual ITV Handbook lands on your desk. In these times of technological integration of the Internet, computer-assisted instruction, and Web-based and distance learning we sometimes forget that the simplest of learning tools can often be the best.
Instructional television programming has been around for many years and still proves to be an effective method of delivery. ITV can help to explain hard-to-understand concepts, show us microscopic worlds and take us to places we might not otherwise experience.
Of course, don't forget "'Tis a gift to be free." Much of our ITV can still be obtained for free from PBS 45 & 49's daytime ITV broadcasts and the ITV block feeds, all of which is explained in the ITV Handbook.
For the money, I believe that ITV is one of the best yet most under-used resources we have available. Any lesson can be enhanced through ITV, which brings us to the last part of the phrase: "'Tis a gift to end up where we want to be."
So the next time you're reaching for an idea to help illustrate a concept, try reaching for your ITV Handbook the answers may lie within.
If you haven't received your ITV Handbook, contact Laura Jarvis at or e-mail . She'll be happy to send you a copy.
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