Delivering materials using different methods
Some of the strategies that can be used to keep students engaged throughout the class is to change up the learning style. If you are giving a lecture you can change the approach by to a PowerPoint to get the students attention again.
Colleen,
I use this game a lot in my classes as well. My students love playing it and they get competitive real quick when the game starts. In the end they have fun and they realize they actually know a lot more than they think they do.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I like to play games like jeopardy as review. I use different resources like crossword puzzles and word searches to give the student s a different approach to learning. Something new I am trying with my next class teaching cell structure, I am having the students build a cell.
I try to plan an activity on which we can build for the entire term. For example, presenting a project that can broken into small parts, each part requiring the student to master a particular competency or skill before preceding to the next. By the end of the term, the project is complete. The sum is greater than its parts. As the student completes each competency, s/he stays engaged and motivated realizing that learning is occurring.
DAVID,
Yes, it does take a lot of energy. I teach from 4 until 10 pm and my students have just gotten off work as well. They are tired so I need to do a lot of things to ramp up the energy level and keep them excited about learning for the duration of the class session.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This effort is very true in my classroom as well.
I teach mid day students which most if not all have just left work for the day. Animation is key for me to make them look forward to todays discussion. One point though is it takes a lot of energy to be animated!
Benedict,
Great list of ways to keep students engaged.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
some of the strategies for keeping the students engage in learning are try not to bore them to death with all lecture, put more labs in, reward them for getting there work done. do demonstrations, use technology (you tube, movies, etc.) Hand outs. Field trips. work them in teams.
Kristin,
They are what makes the classes fun because they engage the students in many different ways as they use the content that has been shared with them.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Learning activities enhance student engagement as well as increase the chance of students retaining the information thus really "learning" the material.
Amanda,
Good way to reconnect with your students. As you have noticed they really like hearing stories from the field. These stories reinforce what you are sharing with them in class and as a result they see more value in the content.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
When I see that students are starting to disengage, I will speak about personal experiences from the field to sort of "shock" their attention back to me. I also find that they really like seeing how what they learn in class, is actually used in the hospital field.
Donna,
An instructor needs to "own" the room when teaching and your comments reinforce how that is done. Thank you for these good ideas about how to be an effective and efficient instructor that engages students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Good afternoon.... one thing I read that I agree with 100% is that as instructors we play many different roles... one role that I can really relate to is that of an actor. Shortly before "stepping on stage" I often review and prepare for my scene! It is our job to keep all students engaged and interested. Standing in one spot and maintaining a monotone dialogue simply will not work.
Walking the room and looking directly at the student, one student at a time, talking directly to them is extremely engaging. Being somewhat animated, not afraid to go to any extreme to make that lecture "memorable"... I will take one for the team! If the students laugh, then I have succeeded. If the students tear up, then I have succeeded. These are memorable moments... these are lasting impressions.... these are engaged students, they have learned!
Amy,
Right you are. I teach from 4 until 10 pm so I use a lot of different activities and deliveries. As you know if you don't they start to drift away and then the learning process is greatly reduced.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In a longer class, a teacher has the luxury of presenting varied learning styles. This breaks up the class into sections so the students can engage again after their attention span has worn off.
I engage my students by walking my classroom and making the students comfortable with my presence. I will speak directly with each one to make them comfortable with speaking in the classroom atmosphere.
Catherine,
This is a great strategy to follow as it will engage your students and keep their interest for the duration of the class sessions.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I intend to use "real life" stories, case studies, putting the students in small study groups to discuss/brainstorm solutions. Involving them in the problem solving is another way to make them feel they're contributing (at least I did).
