Teaching Without Technology Exploring the Power of Human-Centered Education One- week challenge Marija Gulevski 9th May 2025 Why Teach Without Technology? • Focus on Human Interaction: Builds stronger teacher-student relationships. • Encourages Creativity & Imagination: No screens means more storytelling and drawing. • Improves Attention Span: Fewer distractions lead to deeper focus. • Builds Foundational Skills: Emphasis on handwriting, books, and oral communication. "Technology is just a tool... the teacher is the most important." – Bill Gates Effective Non-Tech Teaching Strategies 1. Active Learning Techniques - Think-Pair-Share, Group Discussions, Role-playing 2. Use of Visual & Physical Aids - Flashcards, posters, real objects, blackboard 3. Storytelling & Read-Alouds 4. Project-Based Learning - Posters, journals, physical models 5. Games & Movement “Teaching without technology isn’t a step backward — it’s a return to the roots of meaningful, personal education.” Active Learning Techniques Examples - Think-Pair-Share: Pose a question, let students discuss with a partner, then share with the class. - Role-playing: Practice real-life situations (e.g., ordering food, solving a conflict). - Group Discussions: Encourage critical thinking through guided topics and debates. Visual & Physical Aids - Examples - Flashcards: Useful for vocabulary, math facts, or quick recall. - Posters: Visual summaries of topics created by students. - Realia: Use real-life objects in lessons (e.g., fruit in a language lesson). - Board Work: Diagrams, drawings, and mind maps on chalkboards/whiteboards. Storytelling & Read-Alouds Benefits - Develops listening and comprehension skills. - Encourages imagination and emotional connection to content. - Enhances vocabulary and pronunciation. - Can be linked to writing or drawing activities afterward. Games & Movement - Examples - Simon Says, Charades, and Word Bingo: For language and instruction-following skills. - Classroom scavenger hunts: Find objects or words based on clues. - Board games: Create simple ones to practice grammar (e.g., conditionals or question forms). - Word races: Split students into teams and race to write words on the board from a category. - Hot Seat: One student sits with their back to the board while classmates give clues about the word written behind them. Encourage Writing and Reading with Creativity •Short writing tasks: Journals, postcards, dialogues, or story continuations. •Reading activities: Use printed materials—graded readers, short stories, or newspaper clippings. •Play reading comprehension games: Match headlines with articles, reorder a scrambled story, or guess the missing word. Create and Use a Word Wall •Dedicate a space in the classroom to display new vocabulary. •Encourage students to add drawings or example sentences. Use Student-Made Resources •Have students create their own flashcards, vocabulary lists, minibooks, or posters. •Encourage peer teaching, where one student explains a word or grammar point to another. Warm-up routine (e.g., "Question of the Day" or a 2-minute chat). End lessons with a review game or a quick check (e.g., “What 3 words did you learn today?”).
