How to Watch the Program Segments
Using a video in class is NOT like watching sports or drama or sitcoms at home. PBS researcher Faith Rogow gave us permission to reprint her 2-sided distillation of key points in the LIVE FROM THE STORM Teacher's Guide. We encourage you to check out her full comments, and send us some of your own: we'll add them here.
"Television can be a powerful educational tool, but if we want our students to absorb specific content from what they see, we need to give them a model for viewing that is active and critical.
For starters:
PREPARE: Let students know why they are watching, what to look for,or what you will ask them when the video is over. The younger the student the more detailed the description should be of what they are going to see. (And hence our publication of the script: we're no 60 Minutes, seeking to surprise you with content.)
PARTICIPATE: View interactively. Sing along, answer questions aloud as they are posed, pause to discuss possible outcomes...
CONNECT TO OTHER ACTIVITIES: Bring the video lessons off the screen and into the classroom or home by choosing follow-up activities that connect the viewing experience to hands-on exercises or real-life experience. With younger students, be sure to explain the connections between the video and the activities you do."
We simply could not have said that better--but Faith has a Ph.D. as well as speaking wisdom! Her remarks are copyrighted Insighters Educational Consulting, 1997, and may only be reprinted by contacting her at faith_rogow@wskg.pbs.org