Mark,
Thank you for this list of ideas for engaging students in learning. I know it will be of help to many other instructors that are looking for engagement ideas.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Make sure they understand the importance and relevance of today's content.
Make sure they know the order of the material that will be presented that day. Have an agenda, a checklist, on the board.
Vary your approaches. Use lecture, small groups, projects, discussion, media, games, and written assignments.
Do some assessment toward the end of class.
Give the students a chance to get to know each other at some point.
Use names.
Robert,
Good offering of variety and and engagement for your students. This way you are keeping them focused throughout the class session.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I use a varity of learning strategies in my classes. They include lectures, power points, asking for individual experiences, stories (some factual, some not so factual), personal experiences, videos, industry presenters. I have found this adds variety as well as maintaing interest. The class id never quite sure what each day will bring.
Ronda,
You are doing a great job of offering change of pace and variety in your instruction. I teach a 6 hour block so I face the same challenges as you in terms of keeping students engaged. I employ these same methods and find that the time goes by quickly and I have the students focused on the course the entire time when I offer them activities that have them using their newly acquired knowledge and skills.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This is a true daily challenge as each lecture class is 4 hours in length. I like offering powerpoints with a few missing words on each slide which creates a need for students to listen and pay attention to lecture information being presented. I poss a class question or case study for small groups to present findings in between each 20 minute lecture. Group games of lecture content seem to reinforce the information and creates a competitive spirit to listen well during lecture so their team will do well during the games. I suppose the child within never grows up.
keeping all students engaged is sometimes difficult, using hands on learning helps keep them involved and is most cases more fun
Kristen,
So do mine and that is why I use them as well. These types of activities help to keep students engaged throughout the duration of the class sessions.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I use games, energizers, and a lot of visual material. My class prefers that over constant book study.
Also, I usually write down some questions at the beginning of the class on the board and I tell them they will get the answers during the lecture. I find that this way is very effective to have their full attention.
Joseph,
That is why I like smaller classes as well. Most of my are 70 or more students so I welcome the opportunities I have to work with smaller classes and interact more closely with individual students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Some of the best classes I have taught have been days when a lot of students do not show up for whatever reason. When I have a class of just a few students I get to bring them up and have them share the board with me so they can mimic what I am doing which helps keep them engaged and also helps the information sink in a lot easier.
Jamilya,
Sounds like you have some great students. Yes, students do like to get involved in discussions and questioning sessions. Gives everyone an opportunity to contribute to the class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I love to include students in the lecture. Asking questions pertaining to the lecture, scenarios, and listening to other students reponses and opinions are great ways to keep them engaged. Most students value others opinion and enjoy providing feedback, especially if it relates to life experiences.
agreed sometimes hard to get some students to participate will try that see how it works
Keeping students engaged means asking them questions about what was recently discussed. Asking them to identify and explain what the topic is and how does or will it effect them in a clinical setting.
Lorraine,
This is an important step to take because it helps to reinforce the content that has just been shared.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
after lecture give them a mini assignment or a group project that each group can discuss.
Jason,
Good points about changing the pace and offering variety in instructional delivery. All of these components are needed to keep students engaged. This is why teaching is edutainment as well as delivery.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Hetty,
Great plan and one that is essential for longer classes. I teach one from 4 pm until 10 pm and it requires a lot of planning and energy to keep the students engaged. I see this as a challenge in relation to keeping the course on pace and the students learning while enjoying their time in class. At the end of the night it is a great feeling when I know I have nailed it and they left wanting to come back.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
