Instructional Television
Introduction
Every weekday during the school year ThinkTV offers instructional programming on ThinkTV 16 from 12:00-2:00pm. In addition to programming across the content areas for K-12 classrooms, ThinkTV’s ITV lineup includes a STEM program block Monday through Thursday from 12:00-12:30 which brings exciting programs relating to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
The Instructional Television Program Schedule that follows is your guide to accessing the rich media content for use in your classroom. The guide is a searchable, downloadable .PDF, which allows you to print the program schedule in its entirety, or, just the pages you need. You can also search ITV programs here with our online searchable database.
Instructional television can add a new dimension to your classroom by exposing your students to new places and new learning. ITV can be used to introduce or teach subject content, motivate or expand class discussion, and reinforce what has been taught. ThinkTV's Educational Resource Guide provides instructional television schedules for both ThinkTV16 and ThinkTV14, along with multimedia curriculum materials and professional development opportunities offered to all teachers in our service area.
If you have questions about ThinkTV’s educational offerings, please contact Debi Thevenin at (937) 220-1708.
Educational Resource Guide as PDF »
Teaching Tips - ITV and Your Curriculum
Television can be a powerful educational and motivational tool. However, a great deal of the medium's power lies not in itself but in how it is used. Video is not an end in itself but a means of achieving thoughtfully selected learning goals and objectives. Effective instructional video is not television-to-student instruction but rather teacher-to-student instruction, with television as a vehicle for discovery. Below you will find strategies on the effective use of instructional television in your classroom.
Before the Program
- Work with your library media specialist to pre-record programs
- Preview the program to fit your curriculum objectives
- Select segments of the program that will spark student interest, demonstrate a concept, and directly relate to your lesson
- Prepare your television and video equipment, cue pre-recorded video, and ensure all students will be able to see and hear the program
Prepare Your Students
- Introduce the subject of the program and explain the purpose for viewing
- Raise questions or plan an activity that will have students watching for a specific purpose
- Introduce any special vocabulary that may be needed during the program
- Provide students with a goal in watching a program. It heightens their attention level and improves retention of the material they will see
During the Program
- Leave lights on to reinforce that the video is not passive entertainment
- Actively watch the video with students
- When using a pre-recorded program, use pause for on the spot discussion, or replay segments for reinforcement
After Viewing
- Use probing questions based on the video lesson to encourage classroom discussion
- Have students complete a follow up lesson or activity
Integrating Instructional Programming Across Your Curriculum
"As a computer teacher, I teach language-arts skills, but with a flick of the mouse, I'm reinforcing math skills. I use geography software along with multimedia applications. When I see a student drop trash on the floor, I teach environmental concern. I seek teaching opportunities all the time, as do all teachers."
This mindset pertains in particular to lesson planning. Well-rounded lessons involve every possible angle you can incorporate. Developing a lesson that integrates instructional programming is the same as developing any other classroom lesson. The goal, as always, is to use whatever resources are available to get a message across to one's students. And one doesn't have to use a whole program-there is no obligation to use more of a program than you actually need to teach the concept.
1. Watch the program once for content.
2. Watch the program with colleagues. Ask each person to look for a different content area.
3. Don't reinvent the wheel. Go online and see what other teachers are doing with this program. Plan to adapt their ideas to accommodate your needs.
4. Start with a lesson or project that has a two-way combination-for example, history and music. Then as you get more comfortable, branch out.
