The ExplorNet CareerTech Blog

Robin Fred
The Centers for Quality Teaching and Learning

Sitting in on a new teacher training session for QTL’s Computer Engineering, I’m listening to West Montgomery High instructor Kathy Tarlton talk to our participants about teaching the content of the A+ certification based program.  

Inevitably in these trainings, the subject of higher-level projects comes up.  There’s discussion of how to serve the needs of advanced students.  Participants always bring some good ideas of their own.

This morning Kathy is showing where to find an interesting online video from Lab Rats! concerning whether to Buy or Build a PC.  The hosts are discussing the pros and cons of building your own system versus buying a pre-built system from a local storefront vs. buying a factory model.  Their discussion covers a lot of the basics of computer technology and would help any CE student understand the context and importance of various PC components.  The Lab Rats! site has a lot of videos on topics that would be of interest to IT students.

But the site made me think of the ever-expanding options for projects that would keep the interest of those students who finish the basic course work before everyone else.  If you have access to video question, why not have your most advanced ‘geeks’ earn extra credit by creating videos of their own?  You could assign them topics or let them pick their own.  Put them in groups and let them plan it out themselves, or guide them toward creating videos you can then use to teach the rest of the class.  They’d love it, they’d learn from it, and they’d help you teach their peers.  Win, win, win, if you can do it.