drezac: Using ELMO Cameras to Record Math Tutorials

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Using ELMO Cameras to Record Math Tutorials

I am not a math teacher, by any means, but, as a technology teacher, I do teach observable skills. I have therefore been on a crusade of late when it comes to creating tutorials. If you teach observable skills, I believe you have a responsibility to post your tutorials online so that students can get further guidance from you when they leave the classroom. You may not agree with me, but I know my students and they're going to go to youtube for tutorials anyway. Why not watch mine?

45 minutes is a very short time. How many math teachers have the time to get around to every student during a math lesson? It's very difficult, especially if you are teaching complex skills like algebra or calculus.

What if your students could rewind you, or fast forward you? Or pause you? With an ELMO document camera, and your PC or Mac, they can! Below is my second example of using the ELMO for a sample subtraction lesson that I did. Of course, I'm not a math teacher (but I did use manipulatives- dots!), so please accept my rudimentary example.

After a lesson, you let students practice, right? Here's how I think you can be super successful using tutorials in the classroom:

1. Model the skill live.
2. Have students then view a different example on your youtube channel. (here's my channel).
3. Allow students to practice, and let them access the tutorials as much as they need.
4. Check for understanding - give them a problem to see if they "get it" without using the tutorial.
5. Give homework. They'll have access to your tutorials at home (hopefully), so they can check if they need any more guidance.

A couple other things:

Make sure your tutorials are step-by-step, not a glossed over version of your classroom lesson.
The shorter the better. If you wax and wane for 10 minutes online, you may totally lose their interest, and they'll find your tutorials boring. Short, sweet, and to the point.

Tutorials are not a replacement for teaching, but a super compliment and great for guiding learning during practice. There's also a caveat to making tutorials- they need to come from the classroom teacher- context is extremely important. So- better to come from you than some guy from Illinois!