duminică, 15 mai 2016

VISUAL ACTIVITIES FOR TEACHING ENGLISH

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 Using the latest technology into our teaching makes students feel like their education is not outdated.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.
In order to create QR codes, you can use QR Code Generator https://www.the-qrcode-generator.com/.
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.