When mentoring our pre-service and in-service teachers we need to describe and model both research-based and clinically tested best practices, and demonstrate how these best practices can be applied in the real (i.e. physical) and virtual (i.e. online) classroom for both teaching and teacher training. The combination of face to face instruction in a physical setting and online learning is called blended learning. In this section of the blog we will describe how the internet can serve as a supplemental resource for instruction and the mentoring of pre-service and in-service Jewish educators. In this post we will begin our discussion on how the website, Big Think, can be used for Judaic instruction and the mentoring/teaching of pre-service and in-service Jewish educators.
Assumption: The teacher or mentor teacher has an interactive white board (i.e. SMART Board, Promethean, etc.), a Tablet PC (also called a Slate or Blade), a computer presenter or computer with internet access attached to an LCD projector in the classroom. It would be ideal if students or mentees had access to their own laptop computers or Ipads. Given parental and school approval, and the development of specific guidelines, smartphones can be used to enhance instruction as well.
Note: Although the videos on Big Think can be applied in the Judaic Studies blended learning classroom, they can be also be used for training pre-service and in-service Jewish educators for professional or staff development. It is our hope that Jewish educators around the globe will form an online community of practice, a CoP, a group of people who share an interest, a craft, and/or a profession, to enhance the delivery of instruction and training of Jewish educators. For example, here is a CoP you might want to join.
Note: The videos on Big Think can be used in a face to face and virtual classroom.
What is Big Think?
Big Think is a website that produces videos that can be used to promote Judaic instruction and for the mentoring or training of Jewish educators.
Where is Big Think located on the internet?
Where can I find a tutorial which demonstrates how Big Think can be used to promote Judaic instruction and the training/mentoring of Jewish educators?
Click here to watch a tutorial demonstrating how Big Think can be used in the Judaic Studies blended learning classroom and for the training or mentoring of pre-service or in-service Jewish educators:
Note: Before inviting your students to explore this website, kindly investigate whether the videos available on this site are age and content appropriate for your students and relate to your learning objectives.
On the next post we will discuss how the videos on Big Think can be used to promote instruction in the blended learning classroom.
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