50 ways to teaching

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50 ways to lead a lesson

The problem is all inside your head", she said to me

The answer is easy if you take it logically

I'd like to help you in your struggle to be free

There must be fifty ways to lead your lesson...

with apologies to Paul Simon

1	Talking to the class	this could be anything - e.g. an explanation, a story, etc
2	Question and answer sessions	teacher asks questions of individuals about a topic
3	Quick tests	e.g. 10 quick questions on scrap paper at the beginning of a lesson
4	Extended tests	e.g. past exam questions done under test conditions
5	Short term individual assignments	e.g a desk-top publishing task commissioned by another teacher
6	Extended individual assignments	e.g. a piece of GCSE coursework stretching over several lessons
7	Video tapes	A videotape of a TV programme used to provide background material for a task
8	Teacher use of video	Teacher led - using video as stimuls material, perhaps with pre-prepared questions.
9	Demonstration by teacher	e.g. how to animate a PowerPoint slide
10	Demonstration by pupil(s)	e.g. how to animate a PowerPoint slide
11	Presentation of work by pupils	e.g. using PowerPoint or OHTs - reporting back to the class
12	CD-Rom search	finding background information for a task
13	Internet search	finding background information for a task, possibly collecting images for a project
14	Interviewing visitors	Pupil groups invite and host visitors, using pre-prepared questions and report back to the group after
15	Creating a board game	e.g. designing a 'game of life' or monopoly-type game to illustrate the software development cycle
16	Role play	e.g. pupils play the role of data and make up a binary counter
17	Quiz	e.g. who wants to be a millionnaire type games, blockbusters, weakest link
18	Pupils design questions for a test	using texts or CD-Roms for material
19	Pupils teach each other	Pupils pairs - Those who understand a concept explain it to those who don't
20	P-P role play with P observer/recorder	two pupils role-play a situation while the third observes / takes notes to report back
21	Powerpoint presentation	e.g. an automatic advertising feature for selling double glazing
22	Poster design	e.g. a teaching aid to show how to organise your files and folders in your user area
23	Digital photography	e.g. make a jig-saw of your own image
24	Library research	e.g. using newspaper articles to write a report on 'hacking' or viruses
25	Simulation software	e.g. CPU simulator, logic gate simulator
26	Spider diagrams	e.g. organising ideas on paper to show relationships - useful for revision plans
27	Brainstorming	e.g. for getting a handle on pupils' prior knowledge
28	Preparing a teaching aid	e.g. a user guide to a piece of software
29	Designing a mark scheme for a test	e.g. give out old GCSE questions and ask them to provide the mark scheme
30	Silent reading	e.g. reading in silence - to assimilate facts for a later activity
31	Directed activies using text (DARTs)	e.g. fill in the gaps, word searches, crosswords, re-arrange the text
32	Complete a worksheet	e.g. comprehension exercises
33	Using a tape recorder	e.g. prepare a 5 minute talk on a topic, interview someone
34	Correcting mistakes	e.g. give out old GCSE answers with marks and ask the pupils to correct the errors
35	Criticising	e.g. given several posters designed by other pupils, write a brief criticism of them
36	Games	play games that have some educational value - perhaps designed by other pupils
37	Goldfish bowl	2/3 pupils perform a task under the scrutiny of others
38	Team work - competitive	e.g. class organised as 5 competing advertising agencies bidding for a contract
39	Group work - collaborative tasks	lots of possibilities - e.g. creating a bid for a lottery grant for a new sports centre
40	Long term projects	Pupils given / choose individual projects over a term - HW and 'spare' class time
41	Producing a videotape	groups design a storyboard, plan and produce a short video for other pupils
42	Flow charts	taking information in text form and putting into logical order with branching - e.g. how to get away without doing homework
43	Writing for an audience	lots of possibilities
44	Create a story board	as for produce a video - without the video!
45	Cartoons	design a comic strip to illustrate a concept
46	Using newspaper articles	precis of articles on current issues in the subject - e.g. Microsoft anti-trust suit
47	Logic puzzles	used to stimulate thinking skills - e.g. puzzles from Logic Puzzle magazines
48	Visits	take the pupils out of school to see …. E.g. an IT centre in a large organisation
49	Producing a newspaper	lots of possibilities e.g. set in the English Civil War (with History dept. input)
50	Video editing	e.g. editing a 20 minute tape into a 30 second news item
51	Pupil experiments	pupils investigate how temperature in the computer room changes throughout the day using datalogging equipment
52	Writing instructions	lots of possibilities - e.g. for using Paintshop Pro to add a special effect to an image
53	Create a mini-web	lots of possibilities - e.g a revision guide for peers on a GCSE topic
54	Debate, public inquiry, tribunal, trial	Pupils take on roles, given briefing sheets e.g. employee sacked for breach of company standards on use of e-mail
55	Surveys	e.g. Survey of most popular TV programmes or public opinion on any issue
56	Cascading information	Teacher teachers small group who then teach their team - test at end to see who has 'won'
57	Self assessment	Assessing their own work against teacher's criteria
58	Limericks	Designing a limerick to highlight a point - such as Microsofts' 'monopoly'
59	Agree - disagree line	Pupils align themselves in the room according to their view, percieved competence, skill, etc
60	Interview the teacher	Pupils have to find out something by asking the teacher yes/no questions - (like the old '20 questions')

Various ways of achieving your objectives; use the list as a prompt when short of ‘original ideas’.
Jeff Blumsom – ICT Subject Coordinator GITEP stjblumsom@deerpark.gloucs.sch.uk
50 Ways To Leave Your Lover
The problem is all inside your head She said to me The answer is easy if you Take it logically I’d like to help you in your struggle To be free There must be fifty ways To leave your lover
She said it’s really not my habit To intrude Furthermore, I hope my meaning Won’t be lost or misconstrued But I’ll repeat myself At the risk of being crude There must be fifty ways To leave your lover Fifty ways to leave your lover
You just slip out the back, Jack Make a new plan, Stan You don’t need to be coy, Roy Just get yourself free Hop on the bus, Gus You don’t need to discuss much Just drop off the key, Lee And get yourself free
She said it grieves me so To see you in such pain I wish there was something I could do To make you smile again I said I appreciate that And would you please explain About the fifty ways
She said why don’t we both Just sleep on it tonight And I believe in the morning You’ll begin to see the light And then she kissed me And I realized she probably was right There must be fifty ways To leave your lover Fifty ways to leave your lover
You just slip out the back, Jack Make a new plan, Stan You don’t need to be coy, Roy Just get yourself free Hop on the bus, Gus You don’t need to discuss much Just drop off the key, Lee And get yourself free