We Hold a Trade Show

Today in 4th Period, we held our Trade Show.

I have four different Technology 1 Classes, all moving at different speeds. As I have never taught AutoCAD before, I am doing a ton of experimenting to see what works as a teaching method and what doesn't. In my White Day classes, 4th and 6th Period, I have decided to try a Trade Show to spread information around.

This is how it works. I grouped the kids into units of two, based upon what I thought would work. Each group was given an AutoCAD command to master. They were to research it, play with it, figure it out. I then had them fill in a worksheet that asked questions about the command: What is the command line? What does the button look like? When is the command used? What are the different subcommands for the command? and so forth. Then the kids had to complete a poster that showed all of that information as well, including a sample problem that other students would have to solve.

Today was show time. Kids set up their little "booth" around a pair of computers, with the poster taped up nearby. One kid would stay at the booth and the next would rotate around the room, stopping at each other booth in turn. At a booth, you would be briefed regarding the command, shown all of the subcommands and shown the sample problem worked.

It seemed to work fairly well when I did it today. The 6th Period class also did this exercise and took their test over the material today. They all did well, but they should, as that class only has 11 kids in it and they are almost all pretty smart and moderately motivated.

We will have to see how the 4th Period class does in the upcoming quiz. I don't think that they will do quite as well, but at least they have some of the information down as a foundation for me to build on later.