Three, two, one, ding! Next class on my agenda is AP biology: my most dreaded class of the day. As I slowly shuffle to the plain, white biology room, I hope today is the day my teacher decides to not use the power point presentation. I walk into the room and see the overhead screen pulled down and the computer on. I let a slight groan escape my lips and sulk in my seat.
Once the class is settled, the teacher begins his hour long presentation of reading off the slides. Eyes droop, heads go down – everyone struggles to stay awake. The class looks alive once or twice during that dreadful hour when he makes a Star Wars or Napoleon Dynamite joke. But when the presentation drifts back to the power point, eyes droop, heads go down.
Now days, it isn’t rocket science to figure out how to keep students’ attention during an hour long class. Technology doesn’t have to be used as a crutch. Instead, it should be used to capture the classes’ attention and get them thinking using interactive technology. AP biology can be a very interactive class – no technology needed!