5 Formats for project work
Projects are not just about written work. The project can be presented as a poster, model, play or story. If you have access to computers, it could be in the form of a presentation. If you decide to ask your students to produce posters, remember to photograph them on your mobile phone! Using alternative formats is good for students who find reading and writing more difficult. It gives all students more chances to express themselves differently. This will help their creativity. Allowing students some choice about the format they use is motivating for students.
Case Study 3: Mr Singh asks his class to do presentations of their project
Mr Singh informed his Class X that the format for their ‘sources of energy’ projects was a presentation.
When I have asked students to write up projects in the past, it usually goes two ways. The girls are especially bad at spending too much time fussing over the neatness of their work and the boys just rush through to finish quickly. I wanted them to concentrate on the key issues instead. So this time I asked them to produce a ten-minute presentation. I thought that if they all had to do a presentation, it would level the playing field and focus their minds!
I was right! At our regular progress meetings, I was able to monitor each group’s presentations as they developed. With a few of the less confident students we were able to rehearse their speaking parts. I was able to advise the groups about what they should include and what they should leave out. I told them that I was their critical friend, and that my job was to make their work the best it could be by challenging them on it.
The different presentations were interesting and informative, and not at all dull or repetitive. One group included a rap and another composed a poem. I did stop one group from trying to do the presentation as a Bollywood movie; instead they did a short role play. During the presentations, one minute the whole class was laughing, and the next we were deep in contemplation. I could see that each group expressed themselves very differently, even though they were all sticking to the presentation format.
I was pleased that I had decided to try this strategy. Maybe next time I will attempt some peer review of the presentations. Now that I know that my students can do imaginative presentations, I might also invite in an authentic final audience for them to showcase their work to. I don’t think it would be too hard to arrange invitations for parents, local community representatives or even other teachers.
4 Helping students manage their time effectively