Viola Rose • United States of America

How to interest students in the "distance"
" Festivals, competitions, Internet projects - that's what a student needs "
Michael Hernandez, a professor of American literature and journalism from Los Angeles (USA), an honored teacher at Apple, a consultant to National Geographic, is convinced that interest in learning awakens when students feel the connection between life and learning, when it is not the teacher but they need something, but they lack knowledge, skills, etc. Also, interest in learning wakes up when the student wants to do something. If it gets harder to write an essay, then he can be recommended chemistry homework help, which is very well served as a learning assistant. And every teacher knows about this.

During distance learning, the teacher invited students to make online projects for a global audience. Not learning tasks, but real things that will help other people. One high school student decided to study illegal immigrants in the United States by creating a website documenting their lives.

One African-American student decided to raise the issue of racism. This student has covered this topic very well. Of course, it was impossible to do without an essay helper who helped him with this. A very high quality essay writing resource . He surveyed non-white students about their experiences in this regard. He then created a series of stylized portraits and developed a digital book that included these photographs and audio interviews.

Another student, motivated by the Black Lives Matter protests, found a way to fight racism by creating a podcast. To complete this project, she had to develop a plan, communicate with various strangers, conduct interviews, write a script, edit and publish audio.

The expert advises to take every opportunity to involve children in real interesting activities.

When The New York Times organized a competition for teens, he advised students to submit their work. One of my students created photo illustrations that showed what 2020 meant to him. This work was selected from thousands of submissions, and published in The New York Times.

The secret is to focus on ideas and give time and space for research and enthusiasm of students, and help them as a consultant as needed. Students should have a personal interest in the topic, the connection between the curriculum and their lives. High school students must express themselves, act, be proactive. After all, all teachers want their students to be independent thinkers and grow thoughtful, active citizens. The best way to solve this problem is to give them critical thinking skills and creative experience. Tasks should help students interact with the real world outside the classroom. Learning does not end at school, and such projects allow students to solve real problems they will encounter after graduation.

We can assess students' knowledge and skills through tests, but there is no better way to assess their learning performance than to see the impact of their activities on people.

Participation in festivals and competitions is more fun and much more important for students than any grade we can give.

High school students can use a variety of modern tools that Michael Hernandez helps with, but it can also be simple cell phones with cameras. The concepts presented here are available to all students and do not require special costs.

" Have interesting and unexpected chips ready "
Elissa Aun and Lama Nassif are teachers of English and mathematics at St. Joseph's Elementary School in Lebanon.

During Zoom sessions, if you work with elementary school students, you should always have some blanks on hand that can improve their mood, attract attention, create a " wow effect " . It is also important to ensure that the activities are constantly changing, not monotonous, students do not have to constantly sit at the screens.

1. Indispensable activities that revive online: drawing, DIY, music. In the lesson of any subject, if you are talking about younger students, you can ask to draw an impression of the topic, listen to the song related to the lesson and sing a chorus, say some basic terms or rules, knocking or clapping rhythm. Simple percussion or wind instruments can help the teacher to emphasize, the very appearance of which on the screen revives the students. The teacher is also able to demonstrate how to make a homemade (an object that somehow relates to the topic) and help students to make it step by step. For example, in science we study the signs of spring and make a flower. And in mathematics we don't just teach length and width, we make a house and measure it.

2. For small children, a doll in class is always a joy. It can be a finger or a doll on the hand. She is able to conduct a morning circle and ask students about their mood. Can suggest wrong answers to confuse students. Can conduct engines. The doll may not understand the new concepts and rules, and students should explain to her, because you understand best when you teach someone else.

Such a toy can look whimsical, like a monster, and then its very appearance will hold attention longer. And there may be a doll - a symbol of the class, which is taken care of by everyone in turn, when classes go offline.

3. Storytelling, especially about familiar favorite characters, is always a hit.

4. Humorous games (such as " icebreakers " to improve mood). For example, "
Frankenstein's Game " . Students' task: close your eyes with one hand, hold a pencil with the other, and draw something without looking, and then point to the camera.

5. Experiments that can be conducted at home. Let's say: try to bend a chalk, a pencil, a plush toy. What are the conclusions?

A more complex experiment. Fill a transparent vessel 2/3 full with water. Pour oil into the water. The oil will float on the surface. Add food coloring to the water. Then slowly add salt. Oil is lighter than water, so it floats on the surface, but salt is heavier than oil, so when we add salt to the vessel, the oil with salt begins to sink to the bottom. When the salt breaks down, it releases parts of the oil, and they rise to the surface again. Food coloring helps to see the elements in color.

6. Games that allow you to change positions, get up and walk. For example, virtual hideouts. The teacher hides in the room small toy bears, parts of whose body are barely visible. He shows the room, turns the gadget and changes the viewing angle. Attentive students indicate what they saw. It is important to play it all brightly and cheerfully. “A little bear behind a green chair? Oh, look! He was found! With a return to the family! » .

The goal of the experts is to continue working on new " interests " , because it helps students to participate more actively in their studies.