Keeping students involved in class
I sometimes have a problem keeping our medical terminology students on task
Michael,
This has been my experience as well. Requires that I do some careful planning to keep both groups engaged.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
My mature students come to class ready to work. With my less mature students I find my classroom management routine helps, along with engagement activites.
Sharyl,
I teach evening classes as well and my experience has been the same as yours with my students. I have older more experienced students in my evening classes and even after working all day they are there on time and ready to learn the content that is going to be delivered.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have found my evening students are more motivated to get started. My morning class is younger and usually need more nugging to get going at 8:00am.
My eventing class fades out on me as most have full time jobs.
As there is more students than lab space I need to have some alternative learning activities in the classroom. Mini-lectures just do not work as I have so much information to deliver and then split up the class for lab practise and desk work/review.
In Med. term. they do work, in Surg. Tech. not so much. I wish I could figure a way to do this as I know that this is a realy good method
Alfons,
I can appreciate the challenge you have in keeping students engaged. I teach from 4 until 10 pm and I know I have to work very hard to keep my students engaged. A weekend morning presents an even greater challenge. What have you found to be your most successful strategy in getting your students started off well in your classes? Do they move right into their lab work first thing or do you have to nudge them a bit? Thanks for your input on this.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
That is true. Specially for my Weekend morning classes I have to try really hard (for the first hour or so) to keep students engaged, that's why I usually schedule the labs for the first hour of the class.
Eileen,
It does take a lot of effort to keep students engaged in the course, doesn't it? You have some good strategies going for you in terms of keeping the students focused on the content while making application of it through games and activities.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I agree that sometimes activity is the only answer. I am trying the mini lectures as well. I give numerous practice activities in grammar and when I feel everyone has had sufficient review, I give accountability quizes. This practice has helped keep most students more focused.
I tried the mini-lectures and everyone was delighted. We did a small group exercise on what was presented and surprisingly everyone did great.
Getting re-focused took a little longer than I had expected but it was well worth it.
Donna,
I think you will be pleased with the results you get from the mini-lectures.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I can relate. My classes are right after lunch. Everyone is in a food coma and their attention span is negative. Last week we went outside for a walk around the building. This helped to wake them up. I think the mini-lectures will work well and I intend to try that today.
