Chalk as a Teaching Aid
‘The best teaching aid is a piece of chalk’ Discuss this point of view with reference to the alternatives.
What are the best teaching aids?
Every Teacher knows there is a place for chalk or white board pens in the classroom, every good teacher knows that chalk is not the only effective teaching aid in the classroom. There are three types of teaching in my opinion; regurgitating information word for word from text books and lesson plans, teaching using PowerPoints and so projecting, and finally creativity; where the teacher uses a range of teaching aids such as realia and technology to engage students more. There is limited evidence to suggest that chalk and whiteboard markers have any less of a significant impact than other teaching aids on how children learn. It is for this reason that we must continue to implement them into teaching. It is becoming more obvious however that most lessons are being taught with the use of technology.
Chalk and white board markers in comparison to interactive touch screen boards, projectors and televisions restrict the student’s engagement. Whilst students can see the chalkboard and white board, SMART boards, projectors and TV’s provide a much more modern high tech audio and visual learning environment. For example as a Teacher I can project images from the internet onto the board which students can relate too as they might have seen it before, rather than drawing something myself and it being misinterpreted. The vast range in colour from the high tech resources attracts the student’s attention more than the limited colours available of the low tech teaching aids of chalk and markers. Further to this some high tech facilities also offer the same function as the chalk board or white board for example I could project SMART tools; an interactive white board from the OHP and onto the touch screen board. This allows me to use the functions of a chalk board on a high tech gadget and have more opportunity for improvement and creativity
What are the best teaching aids?
Every Teacher knows there is a place for chalk or white board pens in the classroom, every good teacher knows that chalk is not the only effective teaching aid in the classroom. There are three types of teaching in my opinion; regurgitating information word for word from text books and lesson plans, teaching using PowerPoints and so projecting, and finally creativity; where the teacher uses a range of teaching aids such as realia and technology to engage students more. There is limited evidence to suggest that chalk and whiteboard markers have any less of a significant impact than other teaching aids on how children learn. It is for this reason that we must continue to implement them into teaching. It is becoming more obvious however that most lessons are being taught with the use of technology.
Chalk and white board markers in comparison to interactive touch screen boards, projectors and televisions restrict the student’s engagement. Whilst students can see the chalkboard and white board, SMART boards, projectors and TV’s provide a much more modern high tech audio and visual learning environment. For example as a Teacher I can project images from the internet onto the board which students can relate too as they might have seen it before, rather than drawing something myself and it being misinterpreted. The vast range in colour from the high tech resources attracts the student’s attention more than the limited colours available of the low tech teaching aids of chalk and markers. Further to this some high tech facilities also offer the same function as the chalk board or white board for example I could project SMART tools; an interactive white board from the OHP and onto the touch screen board. This allows me to use the functions of a chalk board on a high tech gadget and have more opportunity for improvement and creativity