The National Science Teachers Association hosted a special day for PreK-2 teachers who want to make science more fun, more hands-on and more integrated into their teaching experiences. The Science for Young Learners Day was the brainchild of Bill Ritz, Professor Emeritus at California State University and the Conference Chairperson for the 54th Annual NSTA Conference in Anaheim, California (April 6-9, 2006). Bill Ritz and his conference planning committee invited me to help them kick-off the day as their morning keynote speaker.

Download a special handout from the morning keynote.

Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 3% [?]

People often ask me if teaching on television is different to teaching in the classroom. Let me tell you a secret.

It is a completely different experience. First, I was told I was not on TV to educate. I was on TV to entertain!

But wait! What if we were able to educate and entertain at the same time?

Teachers are accustomed to having long lessons. In TV that is not the case. If you don’t grab their attention in the first 10-15 seconds, it’s over.

What I learned about TV and how it relates to the real teaching world is to grab their attention at the beginning and give them a “gee wiz”? experience. Teach the viewer how they can do it at home (like putting a bar of soap in the microwave and watching it grow).

Teachers can use that same kind of model and kids can share the experience with their parents and family. Hear! Hear for television!

Listen to my podcast on the 15-second soundbite

(File size is 1.4 MB) (Show length 3 minutes)

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Popularity: 5% [?]