Scaffolding Direct Instruction With Videos.

Videos can be powerful tools in the math classroom, especially when used to scaffold direct instruction. By carefully selecting and incorporating videos into your lessons, you can enhance student understanding, engagement, and retention of mathematical concepts. Here’s how you can effectively use videos to scaffold direct instruction in your math class:

First, choose relevant and engaging videos. Look for videos that directly align with the concepts you are teaching. The videos should be age-appropriate, clear, and engaging to maintain student interest. Consider using a variety of video formats such as animations, real-world examples, and instructional videos.

Always preview the videos before you assign it. Ensure that the content is accurate, clear, and at an appropriate level for your students. Pay attention to the pacing, as videos should not be too fast or too slow for students to follow.

Take time to provide context by introducing the video, explaining its relevance to the lesson and how it connects to the concepts students are learning. This helps students understand why they are watching the video and what they should pay attention to.

Furthermore, use the videos as a pre-teaching tool. Videos can be used to introduce new concepts or as a review before a lesson. This can help students build background knowledge and prepare them for the upcoming instruction.

If you are playing it as part of the lesson, encourage active viewing by pausing the video at key points to ask questions or discuss concepts. This helps students process the information and clarify any misunderstandings. Always provide guided notes or worksheets to complete while watching the video. This keeps them focused and helps them actively engage with the content. Once the video is done, provide students with follow-up activities such as discussions, problem-solving tasks, or hands-on activities to reinforce the concepts learned.

In addition, assess student understanding.Use the video as a formative assessment tool by asking questions or giving quizzes to check for understanding. This helps you identify any misconceptions that need to be addressed.

By incorporating carefully selected videos into your math instruction, you can scaffold learning, enhance understanding, and make math more accessible and engaging for your students. Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.