Jim Coe over at Bionic Teaching has uploaded really cool quicktime files that assist with teaching the comma rules. Every year Jim reminds his student what the comma rules are prior to the state assessment. This year he decided to try to create a more visually appealing and effective presentation method. I think you will find the final files very well done and useful for your own class.
This lesson does two things very effectively for students: (1) demonstrates that technology can enhance teaching and learning and (2) that good design makes all the difference. While the students may not make real-world connections immediately to the value of the comma rules, they are more likely to learn the rules. In addition, these students have observed their teacher using technology in a novel and engaging way. Contrast these videos (they were PowerPoint presentations first) with other methods for teaching the rules. Which way do you think works better for student learning? Did you learn anything new by watching the videos?
