Lynette,
this is a great point. I go back to my theatre days & remember as director I tried to sit in a seat in every section of the theatre so I can see the production from the audience's perspective.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I like this idea of viewing the classroom through the student's eyes.It is tempting to stay at the front of the room and assume that everything is all right. At times I've used a certain color of marker on the board that I thought looked fine up close but was difficult to see farther away. The volume on videos needs to be adjusted for larger rooms. I can't know that unless I move to the back of the room. An instructor adds the personal touch by physically coming up to students and engaging them.
Moving around the classroom when lecturing helps to maintain student attention, and engagement.
moving around gives students a way to focus and makes it easy for those students not paying attention to then start paying attention and becoming involed with the lecture.
Makes everyone feel included.
Aimee,
yes the movement helps the students see that you are engaged with all of them & what they are doing.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Helps the students focus on you and be aware that you are focusing on them.
Danny,
the movement really does help to keep the attention & focus of the students.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
You are engaging yourself with your students making them comfortable to ask questions making the environment a learning environment. As an instructor movement I think is necessary you can also see what there doing as you move around are they taking notes,or are they doing other things that are not associated with what the discussion is about at the time.
I love to move around as I lecture..... I notice a complete difference in the classes attention level
I am relativly new at teaching. I find it difficult to move around the classroom because I fear loosing my train of thought. I rely to heavily on notes and the textbook. I want to be that teacher who has the confidence to move around, just finding it difficult to find the happy median
Having body gestures and avoiding monotonic lectures absolutly drws students attention.
Also helps the instructor to see the students activity and makes them to be the center focusing point for the class
I have found that by moving around the room while the students are working on individual allows me to spend additional time with those students that need extra help.
I believe it keeps the students engaged, whether they know it or not - "change is happening and I don't want to miss anything."
Melinda,
I agree with you & your reasons. My energy in walking helps the students stay engaged & focused.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I like to move around the classroom because it allows me the chance to see how each student is taking in the information being presented. I like to use it in combination with the eye contact. But, by being throughout the classroom, each student feels that they are truly part of my class. I think it allows them to feel like a stronger part of the class as a whole. I want the students who are in the back, by choice or happenstance, that they are as much of an asset to the class as everyone else. I person visiting my classes would never find me behind the desk or podium. I am always moving among my students.
I feel that it helps the students learn and stay involved with your lecture or activity that your teaching. Just sitting is boring and the students loose intrest. Walking around shows involvement and sitting doesn't show interacting with the students to me. I love to walk around the room.....
I enjoy moving around the classroom. I am one of those people who use a lot of hand gestures and active body language. Often, I can "act out" a concept, which relaxes and entertains the students and they seem to remember that concept better. Moving around also allows me to see what the students are writing down and I am able to keep tabs on what is on the laptop screens too!
Michael,
yes, the more you can move around the room the more confident you appear & the more respect you will have in the eyes of the students. I believe moving around during the test is a good idea & as long as you aren't "hovering" over a student it should not be problematic.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
