Scholars Online

How to Use Scholars Online in the Classroom

Scholars Online videos are designed to complement the printed Choices curricula. On the "readings" web page for any given unit, the major headings listed correspond to the major headings in the student readings. Relevant videos are listed beneath each heading. On the "lessons" page for a unit, specific directions and suggestions will help you use the listed videos with lesson plans from the corresponding printed unit. Below are additional, general suggestions for how to incorporate the videos in your class or in professional development.

  1. Have students watch sections of the video before they do the corresponding reading, to prepare them for reading.
  2. As a prereading, exploration exercise, allow students to view any three or four of the videos they want and require them to summarize each video.
  3. Assign students to watch some videos instead of or in addition to reading the corresponding sections if you believe your students might struggle with those readings.
  4. Use the videos to differentiate your teaching. Students can watch different videos depending on where they are in their assignment and/or which speakers are most accessible for them. Or assign some students to watch the videos and others to do the readings.
  5. After students have done the reading, use the videos as checks for understanding. Pause the video during the question, and ask students to answer the question before playing the rest of the video.
  6. Use the videos to assist students' recall during lessons. For instance, if a group of students cannot remember the importance of an event and therefore cannot complete the lesson, show them the corresponding video.
  7. Assign videos as homework but also require students to complete relevant questions on the printed study guides.
  8. Compare the scholars' discussions. For instance, do scholars of different disciplines (e.g. political science, history, anthropology) answer similar questions the same way?
  9. Use the videos to teach note taking skills while also emphasizing content. The short "lecture" format with written questions makes a good source for students new to note taking.
  10. Use the video format as a model. As a final project, ask students to conduct "interviews" for other topics in your curriculum. One student can be the videographer/interviewer and the other can pose as the scholar. Have students produce the videos, including locating relevant graphics, and post them on the school intranet.
  11. Use the videos to assist in your own knowledge and/or in professional development you provide for other teachers. Their brevity means you can quickly get everyone "up to speed" on a particular topic. Or if you watch the entire series of one scholar, you will have provided your colleagues with a useful presentation that would have cost much more if you had to bring the scholar to your district.