What I do is breakdown the class into groups and have them participate in games pertaining to the course content. I also try and perform small skits bringing life to the subject matter. I never would try to single out these students because it only causes conflict and lowers the paticipation within the classroom.
Teaching an Esthetics class that is only 9 months long, we have a lot of material to cover. My students get off task quite often. Some times I will have the students play Jeopardy which covers the material that we are covering in class. That way it is a fun way to stay on task and learn.
Making them feel more involved in any process usually helps. It may be better at times to have them leave the room for a special assignment or could be as simple as having them pass out some papers to the rest of the group.
Hi Ron:
Often times, real-world examples are just the thing to drive a point home. But, you are correct, this often takes more preparation time at the beginning. Once we teach something through the first time, that shouldn't be as much of an issue the next time through.
Regards, Barry
Hi Roy:
Another technique that may be effective is walking around when lecturing, putting yourself in closer proximity to the student.
Regards, Barry
Hi Katrena:
That's a smart idea. Something else that may work well (if possible) is to have the instrucotr walk around the course while teaching, bringing a closer proximity to the student and themselves.
Regards, Barry
Hi Warren:
Do you mean one on one, or in front of the whole class?
One technique that seems to work is to have the instructor walk around when lecturing (if practical to the material being taught).
Regards, Barry
There are different strategies to use for different situations. Sometimes "active participation" can be used in small groups. Have teams of students tackle the question or problem. Have each team responsible for selecting a leader and require them to provide a summary of learning after an approriate amount of time. Monitor the conversations in each group and ask questions as needed.
You can also do a quick assessment of student needs on a 3 x 5 card.
I often use small group activities to help keep my students on task. I like to count off so the students are randomly put into a group rather then with their friends. This will often times keep them more on task. I find that often its the younger students that sit in the back of the room in my class who are off task. Once they are in a small group I like to walk from group to group checking what they have done and asking questions to check their understanding of the concept being learned.
Because we use the team concept here, I find that getting one of the others in the group involved in drawing the wayward student back to the task works better than my direct intervention.
Bringing up the workplace is a great idea. It shows the student what kind of job they will be doing.
Hi Faith:
Another great technique is letting the students know that after the review, you will be asking them to recite outlout the new definition you just covered, or come up and write it out on the white board.
Regards, Barry
Hi Laurie:
You're right of course - having the student read out loud may not always be practical for every learning environment situation. Another technique that may work well is to have the instructor walk around the class while lecturing to bring closer proximity between them and the students.
Regards, Barry
Hi Precious:
Discussions are definitely an answer to this issue. Something else that may be equally effective (if possible)is to have the instructor walk around the classroom while lecturing and bring a closer proximity to themselves and the student.
Regards, Barry
Hi Sandy:
Another idea to is to have the instructor walk around the class when lecturing putting a closer proximity between themselves and the students. Of course, this only works if practical - it wouldn't work for every class environment.
Regards, Barry
Hi Patricia:
Another technique that might work (if practical) is having the instructor walk around the learning environment while they teach which brings a closer proximity between them and the student.
Regards, Barry
Give students a chance to practice what you are teaching, it's a good break in the middle, or whatever point they have driffted off, and it shows them they have some knowledge now they didn't have before. This will accomplish their feeling of selfworth and now they are ready to listen to the rest of the lecture because they realize they are learning from it.
go into small discussion groups and or redirect to another topic
Being that offtrack student myself in school I some time know more what they are dealing with. I will ask my student questions I know he or she has more interst in which gets them in a more comfort zone as they begin to speak or explain. Inturn rexciting there interest in the course material getting them to stop talking afterwords can some times also be a Challenge.
Hi Carla:
Group work is an EXCELLENT way to keep students engaged and on task. Another idea is to walk around while lecturing and bringing a closer proximity to you and the student.
Regards, Barry
