Without teachers, there might not be a Jerusalem. How’s that, you might ask. Well, it is a matter of “Tradition” as goes the song in “Fiddler on the Roof.” There has always been the Jewish tradition of teaching the next generation. The whole liturgy of the Passover is one big object lesson for kids. While university professors were lecturing away, enjoying the sound of their own voice, doing a data dump in their bored students’ minds, rabbis were facilitating before facilitators were in vogue. Talk about home-schooling, Jewish mothers would teach the Hebrew aleph-bet by baking cookies in the shape of the letters.
When will educators leave behind the old Greek oratory lecture method of teaching and enter into interactive learning? The Digital Age of Education is how we will teach the next generation. It has to be quick, memorable, visual, putting the student in the driver’s seat. This is scarey for the 20th century educator. But I say to you, give it up! Even Spock (Leonard Nimoy) has given his mantle to Zachary Quinto, Elijah/Elisha style, ensuring future generation of Trekkies. See them together in Audi advert.
Right now I am developing an online course for the most ancient of languages: Hebrew. This will not be a course for old fogies who want a grammar lesson. This is meant for kids–because they are the ones who need to find Hebrew fun, because it is. Through a company called iSpring, I have been able to make powerpoint presentations and upload them on their site. They convert them to flash presentations. But this is the kicker–they keep all my animations–which are essential to the method of the course. Also, the student has control on the slides: the student can set the pace. Other website where you can upload your ppt don’t always offer these features. That is where YouTube doesn’t cut it–a video is too fluid–it’s gone before you know it. No time for reflection. With iSpring, a student can stop one a slide as long as needed. it’s easy to go back and repeat. In learning languages, it’s all about repetition. The student can hear the word as many times as necessary. What is good about iSpring is that it accommodates a language written right to left. Also, there is no problem mixing the English with the Hebrew.
Also, at the end of each module, there is a game, what some would call a quiz. For learning to take place, real learning, students need to have the opportunity to check what they have studied, and many times, the learning actually takes place during the game.
This course is a great way for kids who are preparing for their Bar-Mitzva and Bat-Mitva to actually learn how to read Hebrew and have fun. After this course, they can easily learn to read the prayers and scripture that they need to know. And if some adults who are still kids at heart want to learn how to read Hebrew, they can enjoy it too.
In the Jewish tradition, I am searching for beta-testers. I welcome interaction from participants where I can learn from you.
Rankinfiles 