Part 1: Technological substitute

While it is easy to define the terms tool and technique, in practice, we teachers tend to very often confuse the two a lot. I find this intriguing enough to blog about it and get your views on the same.

Availability bias

There is a large emphasis on tools to deliver better lesson sometimes, instead of relying on technique. Why? My guess is that because they are easily available. Consider using software called 'Random Name Picker' that you use to draw names at random in your classroom. As a teacher, once you realise that such a tool is at your disposal, you would want to consider it over name tags. How do you ensure it is not merely used for substitution? Does it really augment teaching in some way?

Spin Wheel on screen vs Physical Tag

A good fun visual engagement for drawing names of participants indeed. Is there any other way it helps the lesson? Yes. It saves names of all students for following sessions, so you don't have to enter them again.

There is a wonderful template available here that you can use and customise for this purpose.

https://tekhnologic.wordpress.com/2017/02/21/the-spinning-wheel/

And if you intend to use this template anytime, use the animation and anchor carefully. Ideally, do a trial run before the class.

Recently, I was considering using it in a train-the-teachers session, but then I resorted to old style name tags created in my own handwriting. Three reasons it worked better:

1. I can use these to assign places as the tags are physical.

Assigning places not only helps me remember all 25 names in two days, but also sends out a message- 'nothing is permanent' in my class.

2. I can use it to draw names to prompt speaking- something my software tool will do more efficiently.

3. Seeing their names written in my handwriting, teachers might feel connected. It was my first personalized material to them.

A name-picker wheel software might do 2. very well but 1 and 3 is something that helps build a rapport, specially where I will be seeing participants for over 40 hours.

Here’s the summary of benefits of each:

Spin Wheel	Physical Tags
Easy to create from template/software	Takes time to create but can be personalised
Multi use: to draw discussion topics, questions, awarding points etc.	Can be used to assign places, groups and check for attendance.
If many students are absent, having their names on wheel can cause irritation.	You can simply take back name tags of students who are absent.

In the part 2 of this post, I have shared the dilemma about tool and technique becoming one for all pragmatic purposes. I would like to know your views on it.