In a recent article in Psychology Today, I described how many of the popular worksheets in use today did not have parallel lines and transversals right from the start. These two tools are essential for teaching students to draw lines and to follow directions well. That’s why I give a lot of thought to making sure that worksheets have them.
There are several features of each feature that are worth taking a look at. For instance, some worksheets only have one feature but provide different functions. These can be hard to use for learning how to draw lines because the features don’t match. A worksheet that has the parallel lines and transversals right from the start is the better choice for learning.
Another problem is that some worksheets have more than one feature. Some have one but a different function. Others have one but it doesn’t go anywhere. How can students be expected to use only one feature if they’re given multiple features? It makes learning difficult and most students will simply give up or use the wrong features.
Many factors contribute to why students have multiple features and are confused by what they see on the screen. I’ve found that the most common reason students have so many features is because they either learn these features in another way or that they don’t understand the features at all. Often, students simply put more features on the worksheet than they need to and assume that others know how to use them.
There are two things that you can do to solve this problem. First, you can make sure that your worksheets have parallel lines and transversals and do the appropriate changes when students have multiple features. The other option is to focus on creating worksheets that offer all of the features that students need and then providing information for every feature in the worksheet.
When you create a worksheet that has parallel lines and transversals, you can also add information about the features directly to the worksheet. When you give them a worksheet like this, they’ll think that the features are right from the start and will be confident when they are given tasks. Just as important, you can give directions and ways to draw lines to students. By giving them a worksheet with all of the features that they need, they’ll feel that they are ready to use them. When they are, they will be able to use them.
When you focus on designing a worksheet that has parallel lines and transversals, you also want to make sure that it offers enough help to students. The most useful features should be easy to find. Having the two features listed, both right from the start can make it easier for students to understand the instructions.
Of course, you can’t just focus on these general principles and expect students to memorize everything. However, you can use worksheets to simplify tasks for students and make the learning process easier. Be sure to include the parallel lines and transversals in your next worksheet design.
