Aim: This task considers which types of workbook (EFAL) task are best suited to independent asynchronous work.
Time: 20 – 30 minutes, approximately
In this task you will be thinking about which parts of the EFAL workbook are best suited to independent work and which are best done as a class in the live WhatsApp lesson. We will take the example of a Grade 3 lesson and identify which exercises could be done independently at home. When our learners cannot come to school, they will need to complete more of the exercises at home than they usually do. Another aspect to consider is what activities are best suited to a live WhatsApp or video conference lesson and how your learners could complete the rest of their workbook activities at home.
Let us look at the Grade 3 EFAL lesson, About my weekend, Term 3, pages 8-9. We have identified that there are five exercises over the two pages. You can see the exercises split up into sections on the slides below. First look at the exercises. Then answer the four questions below. For each question, choose 'Yes' if the exercise is a suitable homework task.
It is unlikely that you are a Grade 3 teacher planning to give exactly this lesson, but the approach described above can be used with the materials for any subject, and for primary or secondary learners. Choose an upcoming lesson in your coursebook/workbook for one of your classes and go through the same procedure:
Identify each separate exercise.
Think about whether your learners could complete each exercise by themselves at home.
For each exercise, think about why you would prefer your learners to complete it at home.
Congratulations! You have prepared the homework/asynchronous component for one lesson of online delivery.
Reading and writing exercises are good for learners to do at home individually. If your learners know that you will correct and provide feedback on what they have sent you, they will be more likely to complete it. Also, if you make a habit of linking the homework to the content of the live lesson, that will be a good reason for your learners to complete the independent homework exercises. You will have to plan what needs to be complete before the WhatsApp or video conference live lesson (e.g. the drawings from the Grade 3 lesson example above), and what can be completed after the live lesson (e.g. writing the postcard). You will also have to be ready to follow up the homework in the next live lesson.