Keeping students alert and aware
It would be best to employ the use of lecture and audio/visual aids.
These work for both my ground and online students. However, they can and do drift in and out. In order to help keep them tuned in, I like to start asking questions of the students. If they don't know the answer to a question - no problem. They can get help or I will come back and ask another question of them. Pretty soon, they get the idea they will be called on at some point in the class. They tend to stay awake.
I have found this combination very helpful. I teach night classes in four hour blocks. A lot of the students have been at work all day before coming to class, so using a variety of methods helps to hold their attention.
