TEACHING MEDIA 4

CHAPTER REPORT 4

MEDIA AND MATERIALS

Many of the media and materials discussed in this chapter are so common the instructors are inclined to underestimate their instructional value. The focus in this chapter is on media and materials the discussion includes real objects, models, printed materials, free, and inexpensive materials, field trips, and the devices used to display visuals (chalkboards, multipurpose boards, copy boards, flip charts, and more)

MANIPULATIVES

Real objects such as coins, tools, artifacts, plants and animals are some of the most accessible, intriguing, and involving materials in educational use. Being concrete, real objects fit near the bottom of Dale’s Cone of Experience meaning that they are especially appropriate for learners who are encountering a subject about which they have had little direct experience in their daily lives. Real objects may be used as is, or you may modify them to enhance instruction. Examples of modification include following:

·         Cutaways

·         Specimens

·         Exhibits

Models are three dimensional representations of real objects. A model may be larger, smaller, or the same size as the objects it represents. It may be complete in detail or simplified for instructional purposes. Models of almost anything from airplanes to zebras can be purchased for classroom use. A variety of model kits is also available for you or your students to assemble. Mock ups which are simplified representations of complex devices or processes, are prevalent in industrial training. Models and real objects are the recommended media when realism is essential for learning. They provide concepts that involves three dimensions.

COMPUTER PROGRAMS AND MANIPULATIVES

The recent addition of manipulatives and student hands on materials included in computer software packages is and an exciting science CD-ROM series that combines the power of technology with the effectiveness of hands on manipulatives is available in an all in one easy to use kit. Science court explorations comes with a hybrid Mac/Win CD-ROM, a class set of manipulatives (enough for six cooperative learning teams) and a comprehensive teacher/s guide with reproducible worksheets and take home activities.

FIELD TRIPS

And excursion outside the classroom to study real process people and objects often grows out of students need for firsthand experiences. It makes it possible for students to encounter phenomena that cannot be brought into the classroom into the observation and study.

Examples of field trips include a trip of a few minutes into the school yard to observe a tree, a trek across the street to see construction work, or a longer trip of several days to tour historical locations.

The schools media specialist can increase the chances for a successful field trip experience by maintaining a local resource file. Usually the file record includes the name, address and phone number of the person to contact . a good resource file will also include notes regarding the value of previous trips or the way speaker was previously received.

Virtual field trips are an extension of actual field trips. Often the expense or the time to travel to a particular interesting location is not possible. For a field trip to be justified, it should grow up of and be directly related to the regular course study.

FREE AND INEXPENSIVE MATERIALS

With the ever increasing costs of instructional materials, teachers, and trainers should be awake of the variety of materials they may obtains for classroom use at tittle or no cost. These free and inexpensive materials can supplement instructions in many subjects they can be the main source of instruction in many subjects they can be the main source of instruction on certain topics. The types of free and inexpensive are almost endless. The more commonly available items include posters, games, pamphlets, brochures, reports, charts, maps, books, audiotapes, videotapes, multimedia kits, and real objects. Another resource that has become very important for obtaining free and inexpensive materials is the internet.

Free and inexpensive materials include all the types of media discussed in this book visuals real objects diotapes CD’s videotapes photographs and even computer programs.

APPRAISING MATERIALS

As with any others type of materials, appraise the educational value of free and inexpensive materials critically. Some are very click but now educationally sound. For additional information on this topic go to the Web Links module in Chapter 4 of the companion website.

DISPLAY SURFACES

If you are going to use visuals such as photographs drawings, charts, graphs or posters, you need a way to display them. Visual may be displayed in the classroom in a variety of ways, ranging from simply holding up a single visual in your hand to constructing elaborate exhibits for permanent display.

CHALKBOARDS

The most common display surface in the classroom is, of course the chalkboard. On called blackboards, they now come in variety of colors as does chalk. A chalkboard is such a common classroom item that instructions often neglect to give it the attention and respect it deserves as an instructional device. Using a chalkboard effectively requires conscious effort.

MULTIPURPOSE BOARDS

Some classrooms are equipped with multipurpose boards. Instead of chalkboards. These are also called whiteboards or marker boards. Are the name implies, you can use them for more than one purpose. Their smooth, white plastic surface requires as special erasable marker rather than chalk. Don’t use permanent markers. These markers may permanently damage the surface.

COPY BOARDS

A high tech variation of the multipurpose board is the copy board or electronic whiteboard. This device makes reduced size paper copies of what is written on the board. It look like a smaller multipurpose board but may contain multiple screens of frames one at a time, and add new information as desired. You can move the writing surface forward or backward to the desired frame quickly and easily.

You can write on the copy board using any erasable marker, if you make a mistake, erase your error as you would on any multipurpose board.

The special feature of the copy board is that the frames can be copied in about 10 seconds. You can make as many copies of each frame as you like by pushing the appropriate button. By copying the information almost instantaneously, you’re free to erase the board and continue to teach without losing valuable time or ideas.

PEGBOARDS

Another popular display surface is the pegboard. Its particularly useful for displaying heavy objects, three dimensional materials, and visuals. Pegboards are made of tempered Masonite with 1/8 inch hole drilled 1 inch apart. Pegboard material is usually ¼ inch thick and comes in 4 by 8 foot sheets, which can be cut to any size.

BULLETIN BOARDS

The term bulletin board implies a surface in which bulletins brief news announcements of urgent interest are posted for public notice. This was the original purpose of bulletin boards, but it does not describe the variety of uses of these display spaces today. A bulletin board is a surface of variable size and shape made of a material that holds pins, thumbtacks, and other sharp fasteners without damage to the board. The decorative bulletin board Is probably the most common, certainly in schools. Its function is to lend visual simulation to the environment.

Displaying student work exemplifies the motivational use of bulletin boards. The public recognition offered by such displays can play an important role in the life of the classroom.

Another form of learner participation is in taking part in the actual construction pf the display. For example to introduce a unit on animals an elementary teacher might ask teach student to bring in a picture of a favorite animal.

Preparing an effective bulletin board display, whether done by teacher or students requires some thought and planning.

Once you have decided on an approach and have assembled some materials, you can refer to How To Design Bulletin Boards for tips on arranging the elements into a display that will send its message clearly and attractively.

Criteria for Evaluating your Bulletin Boards:

·         Emphatic

·         Balanced

·         Interactive

·         Lettered properly

·         Relative

·         Durable

·         Neat

CLOTH BOARDS

Are constructed of cloth stretched over a study backing material such as plywood, Masonite, or heavy cardboard. Pieces of flannel stick together when gentle pressure is applied. You can draw with felt tip markers on visuals can back still pictures and graphics with pieces of flannel. The most expensive cloth board is made from hook and loop material. The hook and loop board has a fine but fuzzy surface composed of tiny strong nylon loops. Teachers of reading and other creative activities often use the cloth board to illustrate storied, poems, and other reading materials.

MAGNETIC BOARDS

Serve much the same purpose as cloth boards, visuals are backer with magnets and then placed on the metal surface of the board. Magnetic boards, magnets, and flexible strips of magnetic materials for use in backing are available commercially. Plastic lettering with magnetic backing is available from teacher supply stores and can be used for captioning visuals.

FLIP CHARTS

Is a pad of large paper fastened together at the top and mounted to and easel. The individual sheets each hold a limited verbal/visual message and usually are arranged for sequential presentation to a small group. The most common use of flip charts, trough is for the extemporaneous drawing of key illustration and key words to supplement a standup presentation.

EXHIBITS

Are collections of various objects and visuals designed to form an integrated whole for instructional purpose. Any of the visuals discussed in this chapter as well as models and real objects can be included in an exhibit and any of the display surfaces discussed can contribute to an exhibit.

There are two types of exhibits displays and dioramas. A display is a collection of materials, where a diorama shows a three dimensional scene:

·         Displays

·         Dioramas

·         Diorama designer