VISUAL ACTIVITIES FOR TEACHING
ENGLISH
In order to make a lesson effective and
interesting, a teacher should use some new sources and techniques in the
classroom such as visual activities. We will see how a visual activity will
engage students in their learning, making it a more relevant, enjoyable and
motivational experience.
Using QR Codes in the Classroom
Quick
response (QR) codes can be created
easily and have many uses in the
classroom. With the posting of a QR code, you can lead students to information
by just using the cameras of their mobile phones. Most often, what they do when
scanned is redirect the device to a website that contains more information
about the item scanned. The technology for decoding these images requires only
a smart phone or iPod with a camera and installed QR code reader applications.
Why
should we use QR codes? Using the latest technology into our teaching makes
students feel like their education is not outdated. They also let students be active in their learning,
offering an interesting way to push information to learners. Most students have
mobile phones and expect to use them, and are excited by the chance of being
able to use them in the classroom.What’s more, learning can happen in more authentic
contexts, or at times and in places that are convenient to students.
You
will see below an example of using QR codes in the classroom. You can give
worksheets to your students with codes of a recipe and they have to read them
and reorder the sentences to write the steps of the recipe in the correct
order.
For example, for the Easter Simnel Cake Recipe,
the 9 steps of preparing them are the 9
QR codes given to students as a worksheet. One of them is the one below:
8.
Place the circle of paste on
the jam glaze and set the balls round the edge. Brush the cake topping with a
little beaten egg.
The
use of audio-video materials and methods increases the effectiveness of
learning by helping the pupil to assimilate ideas in a more meaningful and
interesting manner. Through the appeal to eye and ear, they provide for a
systematic improvement of knowledge and skills, as well as a favorable
influence on attitudes and appreciations. The proper use of audio-visual aids increases
better understanding, develops power of oral and written communication and encourages
pupil participation.
