ideas for keeping students involved
I like to hear about other instructors ideas
I like this idea, I'm going into electrical theory within the next few weeks, I might have to borrow this! Thanks
I lecture for a little bit then stop and do whatever we are lecturing about this way they dont lose interest in what we are talking about and they can relate. I also often use visual aids for students so that they can understand the material I am talking about.
Maria,
Can you find some alternative ways of delivering the lecture content, such as handouts so you can free up some time to play games and get students motivated? This method of getting student interaction is valuable it is a shame to not be able to use this format since you get such good results with it.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I used to play games, give colored M&Ms & select a color & only these people with that color could answer the question & if they answered it correctly they could eat their M&M. Although now the lecture material takes the entire class time. How can I retain their interest other than asking questions for them to answer?
Kevin,
Like your example of how to get your students to see and understand the flow of electrons. Activities like this help to make the content come alive and have meaning for students. Also, by bringing in their life experiences you are showing them applications and relevancy of content outside of the classroom because in many cases they have made such applications in their own lives.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I like to start discussions in class that allow students to share their own experiences. I moderate the discussion to keep it flowing. I will also introduce games and activities to help illustrate a difficult concept. One of the things I do is pass around ping pong balls to simulate the flow of electrons. This helps demystify electricity and keeps the students involved.
Alan,
Like your style and creativity. I know your students appreciate your effort to get them involved in the learning process even when the content can be challenging and somewhat dull. A shared laugh goes a long way in resetting a student's brain.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
There are those section of class courses that are dull. I approach that as a boring play and when lecturing add some humor or a story of my first days in that field and give a "Broadway Production". It seems to make them perk up and get invovlved. Sometimes use them as characters and make them laugh. With that they are engaged into the class and topics that we are lecturing about.
Ellya,
I do to because we have some very creative and amazing educational professionals in our field from whom we can learn much.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Students like real life experiences
