Alternatives To Lecturing In The Classroom

As educators, we know lecturing is a part of the classroom and learning process. However, with today’s classrooms lecturing isn’t the only option to use. In our opinion its honestly one of our least favorite ways to educate. The classroom structure is changing and so is the way students learn. We have seen great success in our classrooms by lecturing a small percentage and then using other forms of educating. Some of our favorite strategies we use are project-based learning, flipped classroom, and I do, we do, you do method.  
Listed below are some examples of how we use these in our classrooms:

Project-Based Learning: We love projects to help our students gain knowledge and to asses them. With our projects we always like to tie in real world application.
                Example: Students learned about a new method to share information in a graphically appealing way which is called an infographic. Students then learn about infographics by actually creating their own infographic over the history of a technology device. Students now are not only learning about infographics but are also learning the history of technology and how devices are evolving over time. Students are gathering information and making it visually appealing with creating an infographic. When we have lessons like this students engagement is always high.  Click the image below to check our this entire unit plan on out teachers pay teachers store.

Flipped Classroom: This is a new strategy being used in the classroom but we love it for certain unit plans because it allows students to work at their own pace. While students are working on their own we can be there to assist students when needed and it really helps students at all different levels.
                Example:  Watch the flipped classroom video that explains how we use it in our classrooms. Then look over the infographics we created to help break down those steps.

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 I Do, We Do, You Do: This is very common in computer classrooms but it is another one of our favorite. When we are teaching excel in a computer applications class it would completely bore the students if they had to sit and watch a teacher talk about excel. Instead we have them participate with us on learning excel, this way they gain knowledge by being hands on.
                Example: When teaching an excel unit students have to learn the basics of excel, which are the ribbon,tabs, formatting, columns, rows, formulas, etc. When covering these areas students open up excel along with the teacher and students follow along with every step the teacher is completing. This way they can have a full understanding on what is being taught. Then when it comes to assignment and project time students know how to complete the tasks because they have already practiced those skills and become familiar with excel. Click the image below to check out this entire unit plan on our teachers pay teachers store.

To check out other methods there is an article that shares 50 other alternatives to lecturing, to view this article click on the link: http://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/50-alternatives-to-lecturing/