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In this lesson I learned about equipment and teaching aids. Equipment and teaching aids that may be available in a classroom or school include white and black boards, projectors, worksheets, CD player, videos and DVDs, dictionaries, and more.
When writing on a white or black board (a most ubiquitous teaching aid) there are several best practices to follow. It is best to write neatly and accurately, even planning your board work in advance. Only essential information should be put on the board. Columns or sections can be created to fill in vocabulary, grammar, and other notes. Writing in lower case is more legible than capital letters.
Interactive white boards (IWBs) are a new technological development in the classroom that should be used for the same purposes as its analogue counterparts, although one should be aware that potential technical might arise. Troubleshooting and testing the equipment beforehand is important.
Projectors (or overhead projectors, OHPs) are a useful tool in cutting down writing time for the teacher, focusing students' attention, and even used for certain activities. Again, it's important to troubleshoot and make sure you can operate the equipment.
More technological teaching aids include cassette tapes, CD players, videos, DVDs, and video cameras. These materials can engage listening and comprehension skills. I think videos, in particular, are really useful in engaging students and seeing firsthand how language can be used in a cultural context (such as a TV show). Visual aids and worksheets/work cards are other useful teaching materials. Both can be used as materials in activities such as eliciting vocabulary, role play, and more.
The unit covers even more materials, such as dictionaries and various resource books. With the onset of the internet and technology in the classroom, I feel that it is easier than ever to vary classes and use different methods to teach and keep students engaged in the material. There is an substantive list of recommended news sites in the unit that I will definitely dip into in my lessons, given that I will be teaching university-level students interested in international affairs. The internet and certain sites may be a touchy subject in China, given that YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and other major English-language social media sites are blocked behind the Chinese firewall. But I'm sure I can still find English TV shows, movies, and news channels on Youku and other sites.
