In-Class Activities, Planned and Unplanned
Now let's take a look at classroom activities, planned and unplanned. The following segments show a beginning Hebrew class, around the middle of the first semester. Of the 12 students enrolled in the class, six were true beginners, and the others had some form of exposure to Hebrew. The class was held at 8:00 a.m. in a small classroom, with a capacity of 25 seats.
The goal for the lesson was for students to state and defend an opinion, a skill that is expected to be developed in students who are at the intermediate level of proficiency. This was an election year, and the overarching topic was, therefore, elections.
This first segment of the class (greeting the camera man) was unplanned in its entirety. Note the way the class is set up, which is the default setting for classes of this type:
A panoramic of the classroom setting.
Duration: 00:26
Activity: I Want to Be Class President
To begin the activity, students present their fictitious candidates for class president. The presentation was prepared at home, but students are also asked (unexpectedly) to choose letters or words that would represent the candidate's party in the elections, which is the way it is done in Israel.
Planned presentation for fictitious class president election.
Duration: 01:23
In the next segment, still in a traditional setting, two students record the voting results. The dialogue that ensues involves the two students, their classmates, and the instructor, and the focus of the activity gradually shifts to the front of the classroom.
Tallying of votes.
Duration: 01:03
Activity: Responding to a Questionnaire
In this activity, students poll each other on what they like or do not like to study. The questionnaire, prepared ahead of time, has student names on it and a column for yes/no or "I don't know." Students are supposed to move and speak to all other students. The TA and the instructor move around to assist students if necessary.
A planned class activity (polling). Students, instructor, and TA move throughout the classroom.
Duration: 02:07
While this activity was planned, it was the least predictable in terms of the length of time it would require. Indeed, in both groups the conversation developed to include comments on personal experiences and topics that were not included in the poll itself. Note that in the very small room, the two groups work without losing focus or being distracted.
Students working in two groups.
Duration: 02:46
Though there were 12 students in our class, the room was is designed for 25. How, if at all, would the activity and interaction have changed with a class of 25?
What types of activities lend themselves well to planning, and which are likely to benefit from a flexible setting?