Breaking the boredom
During my classes we cover a large varity of topics in a short time. I find that by adding a "real life' situation or story that actualy happened in my past tends to drive home the point of that particular lesson. Students connect better to something that is real and not just words from a book.
I teach in the paralegal field. One activity I do to break the boredom of the continuous assignments, readings, lectures, etc. is to present them with a real-life case and ask them to act like lawyers. I split students into groups of lawyers for the PL and DEF, and jury members. We then hold a mini-Judge Judy style hearing where the PL's group presents their case, and then the DEF. I then let the "jury" get together and present their decision and I ask reasons why they came to a certain decision. Although this activity may sometimes go beyond what is being learned in the course, it is a fun and exciting way to see how laws are applied in real-life and how juries come to decisions. And for the rest of the course I am able to refer back to our exercise as a learning reference point, and sometimes particular arguments made by students, as a way to illustrate a later lesson or point. I can be assured that the students will always remember our trial.
I totally agree. Anytime I tell my students about a real life situation that they may find out in the field, they pay attention and ask some questions.
It also helps when I time it right so if someone asks "X" question, I can answer it by jumping into the next section of the lecture/notes.
Hi Robert,
Good suggestion. Some instructors miss the "look" and just keep on going. This is where class management becomes a problem if the students aren't engaged.
Gary
I was taught along time ago, if you look out into the eyes of the students and you see that they are looking through you, STOP whatever you doing and do something else.
I am actually creating a story board so I dont repeat certain stories and I dont end up telling too many stories. I also am creating the story board to make sure I dont repeat a story especially when I am teaching more than one class at a time.
I Agree With Robert Reading From A Powerpoint Get's Boring To The Student's And Giving Them Real World Situations Helps Them out A Lot....
One should play a lot of tricks in the class room to keep the students from boredom. Related stories or our own experience my be narrated and shared with students.
Letting students participate in presenting a lesson is always a good strategy. He or she will also usually learn something in the process if they take the assignment seriously and are conscientious when trying to teach the other students a concept. Sometimes they have a way of presenting an idea that you may not have thought of or a trick to help another student remember a particular fact.
Have the students teach a portion of the course whenever possible.
