Thursday, July 31, 2014

Physics Teaching Techniques: Mini-Whiteboards

Using mini-whiteboards to transform classroom practice

There are three reasons I find them useful:.
  1. Whole-class feedback:Mini-whiteboards, on which the whole class simultaneously writes down the answer to a question, are a quick way of gauging whether the class as a whole is getting your lesson. This method also satisfies the high-achievers who would normally stick their hands up.

 2.    Developing confidence. Quite a lot of students don’t like putting pen to paper. This is especially true in maths where there is usually a single right answer and, therefore, a high risk of ‘getting it wrong’. I’ve found students much more willing to make a start on mini boards because it’s easy to make corrections and wipe out mistakes. Once they’ve experimented, they can copy out the solution on paper.

3.   Checking individual work.  When students complete the same task on mini boards, they collaborate better by looking at what each other are writing and it’s easy for me to see too. They’re less afraid of someone pointing out a mistake because it’s quick to make corrections on the dry-erase surface.







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