Last week we discussed another approach on motivating the students to read on more effectively.
Usually the Net Gener ( the word used in Grown up digital by Don Tapscott for the young generation using high tech devices as their daily necessities) pick what they want to read, when they want to read and how they want to read. Classes can not be the traditional ways any more with the teacher centered and passive students. Students can find what they want on the vast more resources on education on their high tech iphones or netbooks. So that mediocre teacher has to do a lot, to satisfy the students and their peers as for coming to class and staying of course in class.
Reader's theater is sth I found very interesting designing for my classes. The traditional way delivered in classes was asking the students to give a lecture or summary of what they had read or asking them reading comprehension questions afterward.
But now, it is more of the same path as presenting authentic problem, in a way, at this time students deliver what they have read, in a more practical outcome; it can be a Role play, play on the stage, game show, TV comercial, Interview or simply Reader's theater.
Depending on the level of the students , this can be done in a various ways. The beauty of this designing is that the learners enjoy more and are thus more participating in the activity.
Like every other design there are some cons to this as well. Examples are not being able to cover every detail of the book in class, or explaining in case learners have faced some questions, or if the national/international exams on those particular readings go on to detail asking for standard testings. It might not either be a good idea for Reading activities that aim pronunciation skills.
But, for sure its pros outrun its cons. Whether the teacher wants the students to be more active, tak part in the reading, Be motivated to read with comprehnsion, generalize, compare or contrast, analyze, debate and what's more, overcome their being shy in social communications, This could be an amazing way to design a reading activity in class.
You wrote about presenting an authentic problem and letting students..."deliver what they have read in a more practical outcome." The outcome is also more student-centered...you are letting students create and discuss their developing understanding, which is a powerful concept. And, YES, they often enjoy this more than the traditional teaching method.
ReplyDeleteSo your last sentence makes me wonder, how will you design an activity this way? That would make a great blog entry!