| | Today's Teach like a Champion technique was 'Name the Steps'. In it, Doug Lemov says, "Champion teachers help their students learn complex skills by breaking them down into manageable steps, and, often, giving each step a name so that it can be easily recalled." Sounds like a good tip, doesn't it? Do you sense my caution? |
Naming the steps is a good technique to use as a coping mechanism. It makes students feel safe because they know how to approach a question. But here's the problem I have with it. If we want to create an enquiring mind, we shouldn't tell them how to answer test questions. We should rather be exploring the topic in a real way. This is exactly what John encouraged.
John said we should use the STS or Science, Technology and Society approach. In this, we relate everything we do in the classroom to the learner's experience of real life. Show them why generating electricity is so important and how different our lives would be if we didn't have it.
He also stressed the importance of using this section to teach life skills, especially while talking about Faraday. In short, this man went from nothing, taught himself science and then defined the relationship between electricity and magnetism. As a direct result of his discoveries, we are able to generate electricity today.
| He had a question and didn't stop until he found the answer. Use his story to inspire your learners to work hard at achieving their dreams, no matter what to obstacles. "But still try, for who knows what is possible.." Michael Faraday Let's take a look at John's slides. | |
John's 3 pressure points:
- Converse thinking
- Understanding magnetic flux
- Working with symbolic diagrams and using the right hand rule
John's 5 point teaching strategy:
- Electricity in daily life
- The link between Electricity and Magnetism
- The Faraday story
- Representing 3D objects on paper
- Investigating relationships
If you are wanting to brush up on your content knowledge, take a look at the Mindset Learn website.
It was a real disappointment when we weren't able to do this show live, but I hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it.
Until next time, happy teaching!
Until next time, happy teaching!