Review of Connections Across the Disciplines - German Tech

During summer semester, we worked in groups to create lesson plans that could incorporate technology with our specialized content.  My group created an algebra lesson and I found the variety of the tech inclusion ideas as well as math from the angle of a biologist very interesting.  Now I will dig even deeper into the tech connection creativity through a German lesson produced by classmates.  Branden, Kelsey and Lisa created a cultural German lesson with use of Skype.  The students would speak only German to native speakers.  This was a fantastic way to have individualized guest speakers in a dialogue setting.  The visual tool would allow hand gestures and motions as well as facial expressions to compliment the verbalization.  Would textbooks or translation dictionaries be accessible?

The lesson designated the time allowed for each component to keep the students engaged in the activity.  Necessary tools were identified, such as the iPads and headphones with microphones, to even further define the location.  Branden, Kelsey and Lisa took the time to anticipate problems and created additional questions and identified the chat option for potential communication difficulties.

A reflection is included at the end of the lesson to recognize successes and encourage suggestions.  The assigned homework summarized knowledge learned of the German school system.  This would be very helpful to include near the purpose or objective to allow the students to acknowledge the importance of documentation during the Skype dialogue.  A bonus could be recording the dialogues to allow the students to identify details they may have missed during the conversation.  This may have been left off due to the fact it would reduce the focus of working on hearing comprehension.

Nicely done!  This lesson plan has great potential to be utilized.