Brad B
1/22/2014 12:27:34 pm
If I was teaching an online socials studies class, I would teach about D-Day with topics like the landings, the paratroopers and the push to Berlin. I would chose this because it is a subject I know a lot about. The way I would teach it would be by using slides and videos because it would make an easier to explain.
Reply
Mr. Main
2/5/2014 02:13:27 pm
Thanks Bradley. I really like the fact you imbedded links in your comment, so that students can learn more about D-Day. That is always a great way to give people a teaser, and having them want to learn more. I know you are fascinated by the D-Day landings, and it is a very important turning point in 20th century history. Good work!
Reply
Matthew A
1/23/2014 05:02:31 am
If I was teaching an online social studies class I would teach the main ideas in each chapter. I would mention smaller details; however the exams, tests and assignments would be just on the understanding of very basic and important topics. The reason for this is that in the long run the average person forgets most of the information they memorized, if they do not know its significance. Students also sometimes remember less on a detailed test, with many dates and facts than they would on one that requires them to fully understand the material.
Reply
Mr. Main
2/5/2014 02:16:03 pm
That's exactly how I feel Matthew. Better to understand the whys and hows as opposed to the whos and whens. I believe Big ideas, are much more important than minuscule details...though to be completely honest...the small details are often what colours and brings life to the big ideas.
Reply
Gerhardt T
1/24/2014 01:46:47 am
If I was teaching the online Social Studies class, I would try to choose subjects I thought would be interesting and engaging to grade 9 students, such as ancient empires and current major events. I would use headline news as a source for these events. I would present in a variety of ways such as power points, videos and website links. I would offer online alternatives to textbook reading. The tests would cover details I thought were important and clear, with more obscure ones being bonus questions. I would sometimes offer the opportunity for kids who are interested in the same topics to be in the same breakout rooms. I may occasionally bring an expert on a given subject to class as a guest lecturer.
Reply
Mr. Main
2/5/2014 02:19:12 pm
Excellent suggestions Gerd! I really like the idea of putting people wanting to discuss a certain topic in a break out room...interesting.
Reply
philip s
1/25/2014 01:28:19 am
if i was going to teach an online class i would teach them about some of the main points of our history and why our economy and community is was it is. I would also teach them about our technological history how all the cool things we have today exist and who invented them.
Reply
Mr. Main
2/5/2014 02:20:24 pm
Hmmm...some interesting points Phil. Sounds like you would enjoy economics.
Reply
Christian N.
1/25/2014 12:45:11 pm
If I were teaching the socials class I would aim most of class time at events in history that are relevant to modern day.
Reply
Mr. Main
2/5/2014 02:21:48 pm
Great perspective Christian. I love how you gave concrete examples to your ideas. Nicely done!!!
Reply
Emily Leesing
1/26/2014 11:42:25 am
If I were to teach grade 9 social studies, I would teach it from a Canadian perspective. I would concentrate on the history of Canada and our role in the world. I would use as much technology as much as possible to make learning fun and interesting. Videos like Horrible Histories, slide shows and games like Jeopardy makes learning more interactive and easier to learn. Text books are boring and makes learning history much harder. I would focus on learning concepts and how events changed history and affected people rather than names and dates. I would try to teach grade nine’s how events in history have changed the world we live in today.
Reply
Mr. Main
2/5/2014 02:23:52 pm
I would love to get rid of the textbooks (and just might), but the reality is, that the textbooks give us a good foundation to work from and all the videos, discussion and interactive websites can all build on that foundation. Good suggestions Emily!
Reply
Vanessa W
1/26/2014 12:23:26 pm
If I was teaching a grade nine online socials class, I would teach about things that the students would enjoy learning about. I personally enjoy learning about the Greeks and the Romans. Interesting topics will help them focus on their work and remember the information that they learn. I would use some fun games, activities, and videos to help the students get a better feel of what things would have been like in that time period, and use textbooks as little as possible. Textbooks can be great sources of information, but to be honest, they are REALLY boring. I would also take them on field trips a few times a year to museums and historic sites to mix it up and keep things interesting. Another thing that I would do is have the kids read the Horrible Histories books.
Reply
Mr. Main
2/5/2014 02:25:11 pm
You are right...more field trips...that is definitely on my to do list for classes for next year. Thanks for the excellent suggestions Vanessa.
Reply
Jena H.
1/31/2014 04:15:03 am
If I were teaching a grade nine, online social studies class I would first look over the chapters and figure out what things are main events in history and would be interesting for grade nines. These would include the french revolution because it has a big impact on our culture and the industrial revolution for the same reason. I would tell my class the subject we'd be learning about next week and give them a list of questions which we would be discussing in the next class. They would be allowed to answer the questions using any resource they could get their hands on and would be able to delve more deeply into the subjects they were interested in. I would create a blog where they could post videos and websites under the questions which they applied to. During the online class kids could share things they learned that week that really stood out to them. I would also have a term end project where my students would pick a topic from the things we had learned about and make some sort of presentation, movie, model, movie storyboard, book etc. that would explain how that event has impacted our lives today.
Reply
Mr. Main
2/5/2014 02:28:45 pm
Very well thought out response. Past the deadline, but some excellent ideas. I really want to pre-load you guys, so that we can spend our class time discussing issues and sharing our findings...so I am 100% on board with your ideas. It only works though, if everyone does their work, and comes to class prepared. Thanks for your input.
Reply
Kena
2/6/2014 03:54:42 pm
I would try and teach whatever interested the class the most. Things that relate to modern things. I would probably do a lot with music history because i would be most interested in that. I would use a lot of videos with modern day people who influence my class.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
April 2014
Categories |