I have an abundance of information to get across to the students in a small amount of time. It is difficult to keep them engaged in lecture alone, so asking questions, taking time for laboratory instruction, student presentations, and off-site clinical assists in keeping the students engaged.
Switching tasks often is a good way to keep the attention. Giving the students their breaks on time helps to let them absorb the information they just recieved. After each break I like to start my students on a new task that correlates to that days lecture. It may be hands on activities like codign assignments or it may be a game like concentration to help retain the vocabulary. The students never know what I am going to throw at them next. They seem to respond well.
Make a list of the subject matter you are going to go over (Keep it to three (3) or four (4) per class. Start the class with a story of some kind to get the students listening. After each subject that is covered break away from the material to dicuss something else. In most cases I pick a current event, maybe something to do with the local sports team. I do this in between each topic that is to be covered for the clsss. The students tend to come back more interested in the next topic.
I like to "switch it up" every 20 minutes -- and get the students moving. This means, I give them tasks to complete, mini-assignments for class, or hands-on activities between my lecture/demos. This enable them to feel like they have control over part of the class- and be participants as well as teachers to each other -- and to me.
In online instruction, I make sure I communicate with students, recognize them by their first names when they come into the online chats, and challenge them if they are struggling or missing assignments by contacting them. Showing them I care is the first characteristic of demonstrating to them that they have a resource, a guide, available and are not out there in cyberspace by themselves.
You can increase effective learning by continuously engaging the student, even during the lecture.
Hi Ari,
Good strategies for keeping students engaged and focused on the learning process.
Gary
Study aids that catch their attention and relate today's topics with what they are learning in class.
Giving them proper breaks to clear their minds.
Always be prepare to listen and answer to their questions in a helpful manner.
I usually have an activity and two mini-lectures prepared for each class period. My activity usually requires that the students actually get out of thier seats. Sitting for 50 minutes is difficult. If they are up and moving around, it gets the blood pumping and revives them. The activity requires that they utilize the material that was just presented to them...therefore helping them retain the information.
"Variety is the spice of life." I forgot who said this but it's true in the classroom as well as in real life. During my undergraduate classes, I experienced instructors whose lecture notes were yellow from years of repeated use. Needless to say, they didn't let me down--they used the same MO they had used in years past. (They would definitely benefit from taking this class--assuming they would be open to change, that is.) But I digress...it's important to liven things up--ask questions, pose challenging scenarios, allow the students to present material, give a presentation, invite a guest speaker, show a video...the list is limited only by our own imaginations.
Hi Christopher,
Our culture does not like silence whether it be on-site or online. I can appreciate what you are saying concerning this point. I try to have "wait time" and then go something else or ask a question. I find that the wait time is good to get the students thinking because generally after several of these they start jumping into the discussion because they don't like the silence. Also by asking questions you are breaking up the flow of content and this is important so the students can have a quick break from intake of knowledge to output of content already received through discussions.
Gary
Soliciting feedback and asking questions are easy ways to break up the lecture. This can be challenging in small online live chats. The dead silence in between responses can be uncomfortable.
I utilize various strategies to keep students interested during class time. However, one of my main ways of keeping students interested is by making my lectures become realistic to students. This occurs by showing students how information discussed in lecture is pertinent to day-to-day functions. I involve them in discussing materials of the lecture and allow them to see the importance of how this content works in lay people terms.
Hi Beth,
This is a great way to get the students invested in the course. When they get to share course content it gives value to what they are doing.
Gary
I ask discussion questions and have students raise their hands to answer questions I am directing to the whole class. This allows everyone to see who is or is not in the same boat as them about different topics, and allows for healthy discussion about innumerable topics we go over in class. I also have students make text presentations about material we are going over in class, in order that they find ways in which to make the material and readings their own, versus just hearing me lecture for a long period of time. They tend to engage quite well with the text, and enjoy being the "teacher" for that short amount of time. It gives them a sense of authority that they don't necessarily feel as if they have when they are sitting in their seats.
Ask them QUESTIONS. Let them speak.
I know that mini-lecture help keep the student involved. I also use interactive lecture. I want my student to answer my questions. I want to see if they are understanding. I also find that when I am losing their attention I throw in an activity that requires them to do some research. It seems to work.
Some strategies I have found very useful in my class to keep students engaged are those small group discussions of differnt topics partaining to the course material for the day that students have to tackle as a group and present to the class. The class will ask them questions and off cause I will be there for support and clarifications. This is what I have used in my Blended classes.
Direct questions have always worked as everyone starts to pay attention, not knowing if the next question will be his or hers'.
Group puzzle solution is another great way to keep students engaged as each one wants to get the most correct answers.
I too like to call on students who do not seem like they are paying sattention but it is important to mix in students that are engaged so that no on feels like you are outing them based on who they are. I also like to make sure I have a rapport with the class and make lectures fun with real situations and use as many learning techniques as I can in a day. It is important to keep them engaged by using multiple learning methods.
Keeping the students engaged in learning I will do a lot of role playing. It has a tendency to break up the lecture and gets them moving.
