making it interesting
changing groups size activities will help keep focus, keep it fun.
Hi Robin:
Great! I think stories, work situations, examples of mistakes or unusual occurences make for great methods to reinforce a point, and make the lesson more interesting. Students like stories, and are usually focused and paying attention when they are given.
Regards, Barry
I always impliment stories or experiences so that the students are able to not only comprehend but appreciate the human side of the world, as instructors.
Hi Carl:
Yes, and mixing it up with variety and multiple media choices, activities that engage and involve students, and keep attention and focus, while making class interesting and enjoyable at the same time will make for meaningful and memorable classroom learning.
Regards, Barry
Amen! There's not much more boring than being lectured to on a near continuous basis. Learning is made significantly more interesting when there is interaction and personal exchange among students and instructors.
Hi Marisa:
Sometimes games do assist learning and students have fun at the same time. These work great when there's say, 15 minutes left to class and the teacher is unable to start a new topic. Or they're great as back-up plans for when the planned activity is not available for watever reason.
Regardless of the type of game, puzzle, or fun activity, when it requires the student to use information or knowledge covered in class (or cumulatively learned) it's another occasion of repetition that will reinforce what the student has learned. Also, especially with teams, weaker students benefit by getting to participate with brighter stars, and that aids their learning too.
Nothing wrong with games as long as it's not just to fill time and unrelated to class material ("okay, let's play poker for the last 15 minutes").
Regards, Barry
I have noticed using games and fun activities can be an excellent way to not only keep the students interested, but help to seal the information in!
Hi Shane:
Sure, customizing our activities are certain to yeaild better resluts.
One way to keep things interesting is to share stories. There's something almost magical about stories, or past work situations the students may encounter that capytures attention, keeps the students focused, and fosters discussion.
And you can interject these just about anytime you feel it's warranted.
Regards, Barry
I think that we should plan some activities for the students to effectively involve our lesson; however, we need to design these activities based on the group of students we have. The activities may be the same, but different group of students will have different results. In fact, we should adjust those activity idea to fit different students we have quite often.
Hi Russell:
One general approach to keeping things interesting is:
1. Keep to topics that relate to the career field the student is studying for, and
2. Tell stories, anectdotes, case studies, or work related situations. These nearly always capture the students attention and keep thing s interesting.
Regards, Barry
Hi Marsha:
Right you are.
Regards, Barry
Hi André:
Any kid of discussion-based activity is going to be more interesting than the "talking head". Activities that involve movement, or fre expression will be more enjoyable than static listening deliivery (lecture, movie, PPT).
Regrads, Barry
never really tried doing this class size varies quite drastic. last module i had 15 students now only 4 so changing groups isnt really an option figured what i would do when things get a little stagnent , play a game of hang man or something using words (vocabulary) that we utilise within the class and giving xtra credit to the person that fairs the best.
I agree, changing to size of the group or even the team members can spark a new intrest during an activity.
