Old School GPS
Do you own a Global Positioning System – let along used one in class? If you don’t own one, you’ve probably heard of one benefit of it – to guide you to a specific location. Well, consider the tape counter an old school type of GPS that leads you to the exact spot you need to arrive at within the audio curriculum.
From the Tone Control feature we discussed earlier, we uncovered some of the great potential a small feature can provide in student learning. We’ll now take you to explore another small but yet powerful feature on Califone multimedia players and cassette players/recorders that improves efficiency in the classroom – the tape counter.
The 2x 3-digit tape counter in many of our multimedia players and cassette players/recorders is designed to assist you in the audio section of your lessons accurately and smoothly. Some of the benefits and applications of the tape counter are:
• Makes repetitive learning easy to implement– Repetitive learning is one effective method in situations such as learning a phrase in a foreign language class, learning multiplication table in the math class, memorizing formulas in a physics class, practicing vocal in a music class, or learning vocabularies in the ESL/ELD or special ed class. The tape counter enables students to rewind the tape to a specific point again and again without guessing or trial & error. Students can practice the material many times quickly and easily, making repetitive learning hassle free.
• Ideal tool for creating a Q & A session – Whether it’s to review specific subject materials or to evaluate student understanding and progress, the tape counter can be utilized to create a Q & A session easily. You can record questions at specific number intervals, and leave specific length of silent for answering time. This application can be conveniently prepared in advance, allowing you to concentrate on the assessment during class hour. For students who need a second run on questions they missed or just simply need the questions repeated, rewinding the tape to the designated specific interval is as easy as reading the number shown on the tape counter.
• Enabling custom curriculum based games or activities – Have interactive learning fun in the classroom through the tape counter! Spend limited time prior to class to record different buzz sounds at desired intervals, which then be used to signal various groups/teams in the class to answer verbal questions you have from today’s lesson. Groups are being selected by the buzz sounds played and questions are announced instantly while the new concepts are fresh to students. This not only keeps students focused on the curriculum but also provides instant feedback you need before the next class.
• Empowering students to learn at their own pace – Connect a headphone to the multimedia player or cassette player/recorder to create an individual learning center that improves student skills on an individual basis. Through the tape counter, students can review and grasp lessons and concepts in their own custom order, the way that they absorb the best, as many times as they need. The tape counter provides students a friendly vehicle to increase academic success.
Shared Wes Goible, a Speech/language Pathologist working with speech-challenged students in the Sacagawea Elementary School, Caldwell, ID: “Because my students don’t have a very strong grasp on language and are not computer literate, I use my Califone cassette players to rewind and playback a lot of language samples. They hold up better than other brands and I appreciate the tone adjustment which most brands don’t offer.”
Let the tape counter roll and let your creative juices flow. Think about it: How would you like to utilize the tape counter?
