Teacher Uses Two-Hour Period For Mixture Of Lecture, Activity

In two hours, Steve Bernard’s class in current world affairs ranged from the ValuJet plane crash in the Florida Everglades to Bo Gritz and his survivalist settlement in Kamiah, Idaho, to discussion about why federal agents haven’t simply arrested the Freemen in Montana.

The 20-odd Central Valley High School seniors moved from a quiz to a brief newsclip, from lecture to small groups working at computers. They did so with little fuss and steady, serious note-taking.

The students in Bernard’s class range from 4.0 students to those “who don’t very much want to be in school,” said Bernard, who has taught the block class for two years.

On Monday, Bernard was wrapping up a unit on terrorism. He teaches the course without a textbook, so he gives out packets that provide students an outline for their notes. The notes, in turn, are essential when it comes to studying for their two-hour test on terrorism. Homework centers around studying for tests and includes little outside reading.

“Are you lecturing today?” one student asked as class started.

“Not a whole lot,” Bernard answered. He lectured for a respectable 45 minutes, with some discussion.

“How can a black guy be a neo-Nazi?” asked student David Shaw.

“The whole system around neo-Nazism is based on hate and violence,” Bernard replied.

Repeatedly, Bernard specified exactly what he wanted the kids to remember.

“I keep things pretty structured,” he said.

For the last 35 minutes, Bernard’s class was divided between his room and the computer room. There aren’t enough computers in his room for all.

The students worked in small groups. Using educational CDs, they found specific information about terrorism.

Without Bernard right over their shoulder, there was a bit of slippage - “What’s the matter with your truck?” one student asked another.

But mostly the kids worked together, reading and rereading text from the CDs, looking for information for their notes.

Bernard said some of the brief movies and videos he’s used are compelling. But even when the computers offer only text on a certain topic, he’s noticed that his students enjoy the work.

At the end of class, almost every student said they’re happier in the two-hour class than they would be in two short classes. “We get more done,” said one student. “It’s all done in one semester,” said another. “We interact more with our friends,” said one quiet young man.

Bernard said his biggest challenge is to keep the faster-working kids productive while the others finish up. Before he began teaching the two-hour block, he was a traditional lecturer. After his first year with the block, he said, he got comments from kids like, “For the first time, history class is fun.”

This year, Bernard incorporated more technology. He’s found this year’s grades are higher than ever, as well. He’s convinced that one reason is that kids learn better when they’re having fun. “I know I’ll never go back,” he said.

, DataTimes