How do we best engage our students?
Today, students seem to have a shorter attention span. You have to try to reach them in different ways. Sometimes, a film or speaker are very useful in stimulating class conversations. I am open to learning other ways to engage students.
Tracy,
Engagement through involvement will almost always yield better student outcomes. Activities that get the student immersed in the subject often improve recall and application of key information. This far better than lecture or reading alone can accomplish.
Barry Westling
I believe a best way to engage the students is also to do some role playing about the chapter that you are teaching about. That will also help them to understand the chapters more. I have them do more hands-on too.
Ashlee...I agree with the presentation format of learning. It also gives students who aren't necessarily great test takers the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge in another format. I am continually impressed with the public speaking abilities of several of my students. It gives them a chance to apply and re-communicate important points.
Heinz,
Good points. I think these work because each activity requires participation, or action if you will on the part of the student. And anytime a student is active they are going to benefit from that action.
Barry Westling
During lecture and demonstration start a dialog (Q&A Session) with the students. I.E.: who has experience with this topic? who worked with this .... before? What do you think about my approach to do XYZ....
Many students have more experience than we think they have. In engaging them early is such discussions they are "forced" to participate, it breaks the ice in new classes, students and instructor get to know each other more.
Victoria,
Instructor directed activties that are varied with multiple media resources, frequent change-ups with activities and learning strategies, and delivery methods that are interesting and enjoyable will help keep students engaged. When distracted, a quick break, different activity, or asking questions randomly of students will get them back focused. If students feel there's something beneficial to them individually, they'll pay attention. So keeping them reminded of whatever job they're being trained for alsways gets students engaged (or reengaged).
Barry Westling
In our career school we do our best to make our classroom and activities industry modeled, so of course, cell phones are not allowed during instructional time. However, I have found in some cases allowing students to use their phones for an in class activity can keep them engaged and focused. For example, in my Med Term class I allowed students to text someone to help them with questions I put on the board. (One time I asked students for the medical name of the routine eye exam chart). Whoever came up with the right answer first would get points. They loved it. Best of all it kept them engaged and they were learning!!
Philp,
Right. We were probabaly all hired for our experience and education, so it is reasonable to asssume that besides teaching, we can offer examples, and past situations that have worked or not, to the benefit of our students.
Barry Westling
Real world application and first hand experience of the instructor is always engaging even if they did not always have positive outcomes, this provides a snapshot into the instructors life.
Lynne,
Fun things like "clickers", smart boards, or tablet-based learning keep students interested and engaged - even for the non-tech-savvy student. Keeping interest improves retention and learning.
Barry Westling
Inneractive learning is fun and engaging. For example using turning point technologies within the classroom allows all students to actively participate and respond to questions in a fun way and allows the instructor to see what students comprehend and which are lost.
Lynne
Hi Adnan,
These techniques work well in many instances. When facilitating a lecture or discussion it is necessary to keep students focused and paying attention when the teacher is presenting. Here, keeping students engaged might include asking questions randomly of different students, circulating around the room, asking a student to illustrate a point being made by writing on the white board - something along these lines that almost forces students to pay attention. In rare situations where the whole class is just not there, changing activitites or assignments, small group discussions, or working on individual projects can be effective. Even here, the teacher has to keep students on task.
Barry Westling
the best way to engage students is to let them work on projects in groups. Also let them know NOT to procastinate but instead plan ahead.
Hi Ashlee,
I think group exercises, or group discussions are great, for the resons you stated. Personally, I shy away from Jeopardy only because sometimes individuals within the team dominate the game, which diminishes the activity somewhat. But I understand it can be a fun way to engage students in a lighthearted way - probably just not the best activity for hard-line review or when critial/essential information is being discussed or introduced.
Barry Westling
A great way to engage students is to have group interactions and presentations with in the class. Having students active during the class will help with attention span and learning retention. Example: like on a test review day you can do Jeopardy or some other game with the material content and make the learning fun and engaging for the students.
Hi Bret,
Engagement is an interesting situation. I think it challenges teachers in different ways in different callses at different times. We have to be prepared, alert to disengagement, and ready with tools to overcome lack of focus or attention. You're suggestions are good ones. Sometimes, just the act of giving individual attention to a disengaged student is enough. Other times, the whole class needs something to get them connected in. Small group discussions with the intent of presenting their results to the class can be a simple, non-time consuming action that gets students participating. If initiated, the teacher needs to make sure students are staying on topic as these discussions can turn into social discussions. Putting a tight time limit with a tangible expectation often is all that is necessary.
Barry Westling
