Walking around while you teach
I do walk around from time to time but after reading this material i think I'll do it more. I think it is a good teaching tool to keep students alert.
Interesting discussion. I have recently heard that good instructors have the students focus on the screen and not the speaker, implying we should be invisible. I don't agree, but then I should have been investigating the source (but have not :-[). This may be referring to lecturing to a large group.
When I lecture, I move around the classroom, but as was mentioned in this thread, not generally while I am talking, but rather when I expect the students to be writing something. They seem to get distracted when I move and talk. Seems to cause a distraction or something. I also like to give those in the back of the room the ability to answer, add comments, and keep them focused.
Roger,
I like this idea as well. It is possible to become too routine even in our movements & then they lose their power.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I like to switch it up, sometimes I will stay in front and then just go to the back of the room for a minute or two or walk down the isles. you kind of pull them back in when you see their heads move to follow you.
i agree with this, i how found when this is done i get more questions about the topic covered.
When you walk around, the students in my opinion, feel as if you are a part of the class and not just someone lecturing. It shows interaction and not so much authority.
I like to walk around while I teach. It keeps students attention.
Shawne,
I agree that movement is a good idea & that we do need to make sure we are not moving too much.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I think it is a good idea to walk around the class, but not too much, to keep the alert. This way you can also keep an eye on the behavior of the students and also to make sure you keep their attention.
Jason,
this is a good example of how we don't have to be moving constantly, but even an occasional loop around the room definitely helps.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I try to spend the majority of the class in front of the students, but I do make a loop around the back of the class several times during lecture. I think that this helps those students who tend to daydream in the back of the class to be as attentive as possible. This seems to keep them more focused.
Sheila,
we do want to make sure that our movement is not distracting to our students. If you are pacing this can be distracting whether it's lecutre or discussion; we definitely have to know our students & what works best for them.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Sheila,
we do want to make sure that our movement is not distracting to our students. If you are pacing this can be distracting whether it's lecutre or discussion; we definitely have to know our students & what works best for them.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I often journey around the room during classtime, BUT NOT DURING MY MAIN TOPIC PRESENTATIONS!!! Except maybe to the chalk-board to write something I want to empasize or to the power-point keyboard, then back to the front of class. I have found that walking around during presentations become distracting to the students, so I try to stay centrally located at front of the classroom. HOWEVER, during all my follow-up DISCUSSIONS with students, I do boogie-some up and down the rows, change my voice inflections, or use somewhat comical body language or poses to maintain students attention.
I am a proponent of walking in the classroom. i make eye contact with the students and they appear to be more engaged in learning.
