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Using
Shakespeare In
Bits Live! with
your Class
The challenge of integrating technology into
an English Language Arts lesson on
Shakespeare can be a daunting one for
many teachers – but it doesn’t need to be.
At MindConnex Learning, we have
designed Shakespeare In Bits Live!, the
online version of the popular app series,
to be as easy as possible to use with your
students, and flexible enough to suit your
own skills and lesson plans.
Harford Day School Case Study
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“
Having visited the
class using
Shakespeare In Bits
on their laptops,
the first thing that
I noticed was how
utterly engaged the
students were...
absolutely amazing
“
Mary Panek
Library Media Specialist
Jamesville-DeWitt High
School, NY
Teachers using Shakespeare In Bits Live! attest to the ability of
students accessing the program outside of classroom hours – enabling
them to study the play in their own time and at their own pace. In
many cases, teachers are assigning reading as homework, safe in the
knowledge that students can access features like the in-line translation
of difficult words and phrases, and integrated notes, helping them to
gain a good understanding of what has transpired in the play before
they walk into class each day.
USA
According to Anna Melville, English Teacher with Harford Day
School in Maryland:
“
The notes section is invaluable, helping students to
understand what is happening throughout the play. I have
found that Shakespeare In Bits frees up so much class time
for higher level discussion and fun activities. I don’t have to
review what they have read, what they understand – they
come in with that done and a basis of understanding due to
the notes and translations. I can quiz them on vocabulary and
they really understand it because of the translation tool.
“
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With Shakespeare In Bits Live!, there is no need for IT
support or technical set-up. All you need is a computer,
internet access, browser and projector to share it with
your class. We have outlined below some of the possible
ways in which you can use and share Shakespeare In Bits
with your students – both in and out of class.
Instead of spending time reading through the play and explaining
every nuance, teachers are finding they can spend much more time
exploring and analyzing the plot, themes, imagery and quotes for the
play under study.
Using Shakespeare In Bits Live! with your Class
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“
With the help of
Shakespeare In Bits
Live!, my students
understand the play
in-depth and, as a
result, are now able
to make persuasive,
defensible arguments
in their writing
“
Holly Chesser
English Teacher
Holy Innocents’
Episcopal School
GA, USA
There are many different ways in which you can use
Shakespeare In Bits Live! in your classroom.
You can:
• project onto a whiteboard
• use it with an interactive whiteboard
• let students access it using school or “bring-your-own” (BYO)
devices
• allow students to access it after class using the same subscription.
Using Shakespeare In Bits Live! with your Class
Teachers use and integrate Shakespeare In Bits Live! in different ways
to suit their own personal preferences and the learning styles of their
students. Here are some tips as to how teachers are currently using
the program:
• Some teachers prefer the focus that comes with all students’
eyes focused in one direction towards the whiteboard, while
others prefer to allow students to use individual computers while
also running the play on the whiteboard in the background to
mediate the pace.
• Some teachers find it useful to play part of a scene allowing
students to watch and listen to the play to develop a basic
understanding of what is happening, before reading through it,
and clicking on some of the more difficult words and phrases
for increased comprehension.
•
The playback can be paused at any point for discussion and
further clarification to take place.
Using Shakespeare In Bits Live! with your Class
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“
The students are
having a markedly
better time with
Shakespeare this
year because of
Shakespeare In Bits
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Anna Melville
Harford Day School
Bel Air,
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MD, USA
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The integrated notes in the text margin provide both
teachers and students with more context and points of reference
for themes, language, historical notes and miscellaneous
information – all of which also offers interesting points for discussion.
The margin notes bearing a question mark icon provide
questions throughout the play that can be posed to students to
promote class discussion or individual student reflection.
Some teachers find it useful to split classes into groups to discuss
these questions, thereby encouraging a higher level of
interaction between students and promoting group learning.
This approach also allows teachers time to concentrate on
groups or individual students that require more attention. Each
group can be asked to present their answers or conclusions
to the class, and in turn, other groups can pose questions, and
discuss or challenge the conclusions of their peers.
With Shakespeare In Bits, it is easy and quick to select and play
any scene of choice from the scene selection menu. Many
teachers find it helpful to have students watch a scene
having seen, listened to or read it once before as, often,
connections are easier to make with the hindsight of the notes
and contemporary synonyms for some of the more archaic
words Shakespeare used.
With “anywhere anytime” access to the program, students can
revise what has been done in class, as well as study ahead on
school computers or their own devices – all at their own pace.
For more ideas about how to use Shakespeare In Bits with your class:
• Check out the School Case Study section of our website and
try a two-week trial.
• Email us [email protected]
• Sign up for a free two-week trial and see the benefits of
Shakespeare In Bits yourself
Happy Teaching!
The MindConnex Team
Learning Made Easy
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