I also agree with another person that posted because it helps me. Going on field trips or even leaving the classroom to view something in the library or computer rooms breaks up the day.Having a guest speaking pertaining to their career they are in school for also is a great benefit.It also makes the day fly by and my students do not get bored when we are on a topic such as the bones of the skull that most of them are very confused and stressed about. When we get back the class is refreshed and ready mentally to start again. T.F.
When I need students to work on team building or to lightened the air, I like to play the alphabet game. I break the class into teams, have them list the letters A - Z on paper and have them come up with a word that starts with each letter. When they are ready, I give them topic, time allowed, and the parameters of allowable answers. I am the judge and they get a point for each allowable answer and zero points for having the same answer as another team. They get really involved and really come together as a team.
Hi Gerardo,
Right you are. Good first impressions help to build toward a good course and satisfied students.
Gary
With a good first impression, clear expectations and good strategy to keep students engaged
Hi Aimee,
I like your humor. It is critical to keep a class rolling along. The only problem with cattle prods is that use so many batteries that the cost is excessive. More humor?
Gary
I find the use of cattle prods effective. And humor: )
I like to keep my class interactive and sometimes I give my students a day to prep and teach the class the next day or share their knowledge. I've often been very surprised at students love the authority and go out of their way to prepare instructional material like handouts and power points. Also, debates and Socratic seminars have proven to be very useful in keeping my students engaged.
Hi Eric,
I agree. Instructor enthusiasm is critical to get students engaged in the learning process. We need to bring it to the classroom each and every time.
Gary
I think it also helps if the instructor demonstrates his/her enthusiasm for the subject matter. If the instructor is not interested, how can students be expected to be interested?
Hi Kleinkauf,
Good ideas for keeping students focused on the class and acquiring the new concepts. Thanks for sharing them with us.
Gary
Some strategies for keeping students engaged throughout the class are: present answer and question activities, have group activities that involves everyone to give an answer or opinion.
I strongly believe to keep student engaged, is to make them a solid part of the class, I like to have group discussions, team presentations, and every one involved with the lesson, it has been proven in my class room, that this work.
Ask questions often change the order of the lecture if they are following in the text so they will have to pay attention to keep up, walk around the classroom, write on the board and give pop quizzes.
many wasy to delivery information, but keeping students engaged in learning can be unsuccessful. Some ways to keep students engaged is to get them involved in the learning, play a game, build a project, be interactive with the students.
I have students get into groups and compete against each other or will have students make up their own quizzes and take questions from all of them. I like to give students real life scenarios of things they may encounter and ask they what would they do in that situation.
Guest speakers, videos, internet searches, field trips, mini lectures.
Hi Angelica,
All good strategies to use to help students get to know each other, review material and prepare for tests. Thanks for sharing these ideas with us.
Gary
Field trips and guest speakers break up the usual lectures.
Playing different team building games like carousel and think pair share. Also bring in guest speakers so they can relate to the students vice versa
Keeping varied learning styles in mind, I prepare for a lecture like an actor in a play. To draw the students in with character voices or scenes from movies or TV, I might make the lecture a plot twist or game show. Students join in as they recognize HOUSE or CSI. Then we can turn the lecture into a discussion. JEOPARDY style team compititions are a regular part of the last class before the Final Exam. A few extra points for the champions.
"The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat." A great motivator and memory tool.
