Students certainly are more attracted to enthusiasm. Redirecting their minds to other ways of learning could be in a group game. Sometimes you have to think outside the box. Make it challenging.
Hi Amy:
Redirecting is good. If students are being distrated by room decor, I suggest to play into that distraction. How about getting either an easel with large note pad, or just the newer Post-It sticky poster paper. When student seem to be distrated, walk over to the poster and write a key word, illustration, term, or bullet point. Essentailly, you're refocusing the students to your change of direction, and you're assisting their learning by writing needed informatiom. Seems like a simple way to redirect wandering eyes.
Regards, Barry
Assess the room... see what might be a cause of off-tasking. Redirect class with another activity or discussion.
Hi Randy:
Good point. Some teachers will give an introductory story that is motivational or inspiring that leads into the daily lesson. Sort of like what you've stated.
Regards, Barry
I try to have class activities every class. I have taught this class a number of times and have learned what works well. It's usually a fun activity relating to the chapter and it gets people up and involved.
Hi Stephen:
Great!. Attention from the teacher is like "time with Dad (or Mom). It shows you care, and overtime students view their instructor as a facilitator of good instruction, not the "we vs, them".
Regards, Barry
Hi Karen:
Right on. The personal touch. Ask students to read aloud text sections you might be covering. Commend even the slightest of good work. Students will notice and become better motivated.
Regards, Barry
Hi Sharon:
Good ideas!. Current events is a good way to stimulate discussion in a topic that most students are familiar with. If you can dovetail that "story" to something related to your class, all the better. I, too, have found the quiet student who becomes "alive" unexpectantly.
Regards, Barry
I try to incorporate current events and other topics that will energize students and encourage their class participation. Usually even the most introverted, quiet student will have some "button" that you can push that will prompt them to engage. I purposely utilize student presentations in an effort to provide students with a forum for their thoughts and ideas. Sometimes it's hard to get them off their soapbox!
Talk to them and show them that you care about how they are doing in your class. I know that when I start talking to a disengaged students and getting the more involeved in the class they start to participate more.
Since I teach practical classes, I try to re-engage their attention by spending a couple of minutes one-on-one and seeing if there is something that is distracting them from their work or if indeed they are just lost. Either way, I find that just giving them a couple minutes of attention can give them the confidence to get back to the task. Many times students feel like they are all alone on a deserted island and nobody else is going through the same thing as them. A brief moment with them reassures them that someone is looking out for them and they can refocus on the task at hand.
Hi Joannie:
Getting students motivated can be tricky, especially if you have a cohort that is less than fully interested in learning. You have some good comments. I would just add that motivation had to come from within to be meaningful. I think when students can be inspired to see what they're capable of achieving, that they can be succsessful, and that their teachers care about their learning - these kind of things can positively contribute to internal motivation.
Regards, Barry
Activities must be planned to gain and keep the students interested. If students are off-task, plan an activity to keep students moving, assign tasks, and make sure students have a specified outcome to deliver at the end of the lesson. Once students know they have to present or turn in work, they will turn around the off-task behavior.
Hi Janet:
I like your comment about having your students teach others. TYhis is by far the best way for students to learn, presuming they have the resources`and correct information to share.
Regards, Barry
Hi Sarah:
We assume that all students are as interested and willing to put in 100% alol of the time. In truth that probably is raarely the case. Understanding that, we should be able to do change-ups and/or switch gears quickly with something different but that relates to the course material. Good instructtors seem to be able to do this seamlessly and in stride. We can all achieve that with practice.
Regards, Barry
Break them up into groups to complete a short task. Then ask them to teach that information to the rest of the class.
I agree. I try to stay one step ahead of the disengaged but sometimes it can be difficult. Thank goodness my classes are 20 students most of the time. When they get to 33 it can be much in an accelerated course but I always take the time to check in with my students whenever a moment presents itself. They know my likes and dislikes so for someone to be texting????...they better have cleared it with me first. Even then I will quietly go over and get them back on tasks. I set up the concept of teamwork early and my students try to help each other out. My class is designed to promote teamwork so I have that luxury.
Hi Carriann:
Students get off task for many reasons, among the reasons are personal situations, class distractions, failure to do assigned work, inability to understand, even disinterest.
Better instructors will first try to identify what assistance the student needs and then determine to what degree they are able to help. Some situations are beyond the ability of the instructor to help. But if it's an academic matter, we have to at least try to inspire, encourage, and lead towards learning the material.
Regards, Barry
Try to have the students divide into groups and present a case study and how that case should be handled.
Hi Craig:
Keeping students engaged ca be a challenge for sure. When students feel you are enthusiastic, have their interest at heart, and want to help them, that's a good start. Keeping things interesting by relating to the lesson to their profession is one great way to keep students engaged.
Regards, Barry
