I want to share my elation . . . Experience Modern Israel went to the printer yesterday! I’ve immersed myself in editing this textbook for so long, I hardly know what to do with myself today.
So before returning to my other projects, I thought I’d share some lessons I’ve learned from one of the most rewarding projects I’ve done in nearly 20 years of editing. You can apply these ideas to your own students, no matter what subject you’re teaching:
Think collaborative: One of my jobs as editor was to pull together a talented group of individuals, each of whom contributed their expertise and knowledge to the project. (Thank you! You know who you are.) Let your students contribute their individual skills to a group project, and they will discover that the sum is greater than the parts.
Think visual: I must have viewed 5,000 photos--no kidding--before selecting about 250 for the book (still a lot!). I’ve seen every corner of Israel, even though I haven’t been there in years. Let your students interact with the photos they view, by choosing images for a poster, or writing their own captions, for example, and they’ll gain a sense of ownership of the subject.
Think experiential: For the past year, this book has so absorbed me that I’ve been thinking, seeing, eating (mmm . . . falafel), and dreaming Israel. Immerse your students in experiential activities, by planning a mock trip to Israel, or running a model shuk, for example, and they’ll take away a deeper understanding.
Think digital: On every page I edited, the subject matter cried out for more pictures, for video, for music, for games. Instead of being limited by 2-dimensional paper, we created a wealth of digital resources, with Modern Israel Online. Make your lessons fun and digital, and your students will not only be fully absorbed in class, but they’ll continue the learning online at home.
Have fun with it: This one speaks for itself. While I’m excited and relieved that Experience Modern Israel is finally at the printer and out of my hands, I already miss the challenge of working on it. On to the next project!
B’shalom,
Dena
