Where am I going?

I have recently begun to do extra tutoring on the website Tutor.com. I have learned a number of simple things, but mostly just getting the ropes on basics in online tutoring.

Tonight I had a session that really helped me. I was in a really good session. The question was on momentum, and for the first time in a couple of weeks, I was dead sure of where to go. Unfortunately, the student was rather unresponsive. Every 10 minutes or so, he would say "So, what do I do?" First, this in annoying to me since it really comes down to mean "So, tell me the answer!" Besides that, I was in the middle of showing him what to do. Ok, venting done...

After the session, I began thinking about why he didn't understand what I was doing. Then I realized that I had an advantage he didn't: I knew where I was going and how to get there. So, perhaps in our teaching, it would be wise to say:

1. Here's the problem...

2. Here's what we have and what we need...

3. HERE'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE...

If the student has a basic outline of the procedure, then he'll be able to follow along 100 times better than before.

No iPods? Why?

I began thinking about students getting lost in their electronic gadgets in the middle of class. Is it annoying to you, the teacher? Absolutely. But why is it annoying? Is it because they're not paying attention to the material, or because they're not paying attention to you? The first thing we should think of when asking them to pay attention is say, "Why?"

For example, if I were teaching a physics class, and I say "Put away the iPod," the students would usually do it grudgingly. But if I make it clear in the first place, saying "iPods are not allowed, because if you pay attention in this class instead, you will begin to see how physics is all around you in the world and how spectacular it is, and possibly you'll even learn how your iPod works," then it gives them more of a motivation--more of something to look forward to in my class.