Pros and Cons of using a projector in the classroom

The use of the projector in class can be an excellent opportunity to improve the quality of your presentation, but it has some problems too.

Pros:

The best way to really make a change in the way you present your class is using a projector. If you want to leave behind the use of the whiteboard, which is really boring, then this is a good tool to do it.

You can use it to present the whole class, or just as a supporting tool for your work. In any case, you can have all your class prepared in advance, so you have time to make some adjustments, find a good material and even considering the possible problems that can occur in the classroom.

You can add not just texts, but also, images, music, videos, internet links, use all the possible tools and options in Microsoft Power Point if you want to present your class in slides. In addition, there is always a drop of uncertainty in the students, because they will never know what you can bring to suprise them. That produces curiosity and expectation.

Cons:

I think, the problem is not the use of projectors, the problem is that, as teachers, we tend to make the same mistakes over and over again.

The main problem is using the projector as a whiteboard. You project every single word you will say, using small and boring fonts (Times New Roman, black) no single image, and with hundreds of slides (boring for the students). Another problem is not considering all the potential of Microsoft Power Point (movement, color, video, music, sounds, etc.) or considering ONLY Microsoft Power Point. There are more interesting programs you can use (Cmaptools; to create brainstorms and diagrams, for example).

It is boring if you just use it to give information, if you dont consider in using it for activities, contests or make the student participate too.

It takes a bit of time to set all and be ready, and even though, sometimes, nothing works, or... what about a blackout? then what? whiteboard again? did you think in every possible problem it can bring just using projectors?

It is expensive, very expensive. And unless you have a classroom for yourself, you have to carry it all over the school. It is tiring, uncomfortable and risky (what if it falls?).

I think, Pros and Cons can continue on and on to create a longer list. But, the point is not considering the use of projectors as totally wrong, neither as the best tool in the world. The important thing is that you must know that this is another device that you can use at the classroom, but it is up to you to know how you will use it to get the best of it.

A classroom idea: "Tip Resumen" (How to end the class!)

One of my weaknesses is the ending of the class. How to end the class? Because most of the times, students are just ready to go running out of the classroom, even 5 minutes in advance.

I tried different things, talking with them, summarizing the main points, but it seems that all I can do, it really won't work.

So, I have planned a different idea.

I have already mentioned the concept of working in teams with contest activities to participate and getting points. Well, another way to get points is by doing the "Tip Resumen" or "Summary Tip".

About 5 minutes before the ending of the class, I present one slide in power point with my projector. That slide is called "Tip Resumen" and I present on it a summary of the class, or part of the content that we will see within the unit, or just grammatical content. The students will write the tip in special papers that will be stored in folders. So after writing the tip on the paper and putting it on the folder, I will give an extra point, and I will keep the folder until the next class.

In addition, at the end of the semester, I will check all the folders to know if they are complete or not. Because their folders will become their Portfolio with the main content of the semester. But this time, the students will get a mark for it.

Until now, students are working until the last minute of the class, and I hope they won't lose their motivation doing this activity.

If you still have some doubts about my idea, you can comment or leave your own opinion. Let's share knowledge.

Power point classes

Since I left the university, it has been one of my dreams to have a laptop and a projector to use at classes. I thought, it would make me a "technological teacher" and of course, it would help me to teach. Well, I could buy a laptop. Actually, I have bought 3 until now (I know... people think I am rich, ... but I am not). But just until this year I could afford to buy a projector, I must admit... it has helped me a lot. At last, I could teach in the way I wanted.

But with the end of the semester, I must criticize myself for the use.. or maybe the abuse of this device.


I think the use of the projector has become just an extension of the old white board. Even though, I has created activities using the tools that powerpoint can offer, and other softwares like internet, video players or songs; I think, I haven't had the enough time to create activities to promote group works, or debates within the class.


The use of power point with a projector must go beyond the simple presentation of slides, but it must be also used to create activities.


For example, I use the tool of movement in Power Point, to do matching activities. That calls the attention of the students. Another idea is covering a picture or photo with different forms like triangles or squares, and setting movements on them. Then you can request the students to create yes-no questions. If the answer is yes, you click and then one of the forms is vanished, until the students know who is the one on the photo. (I still remember what my teacher Pablo Abarca taught me, jejeje. Thanks teacher... because you were my model to become more technological and creative).