I work with my students to make a connection in the beginning. What I have found is that most are inattentive because there are outside factors that are influencing their class behavior. In order to get there attention during class I like to break up in groups, or I call on them individually to give me an example of what I am discussing with the group. Usually that will help them to get back on track because it shows that I am aware that they aren't paying attention in class.
One of the ways of getting the attention of inattentive students is assigning group assignments in class. This way they get to interact with other students and participate in a topic relevant area.
Really good ideas in this segment. One thing I do is look back on my own educational experiences and I try to emulate those instructors and professors that I found most impactful. I probably fit one or more of the "difficult student" definitions in my younger years, and I now appreciate the effort of my instructors to not only help me pass their courses, but to actually learn. Students of all ages need structure, and they need to know what your expectations of them are as it relates to the course and their participation in the class. This is when good communication between instructor and student is essential.
Yo! Pay attention, there's going to be a test. Sometimes that works but I try to stress that I'm trying to get them informaiton that will help help get good grades in class but also get them good jobs in the future.
If I see that a student is not paying attention, I will try and get them into our conversation. I will ask them a question or their opinion. I might stop what I am doing and change it up for a little while. We might play a game with words or I might ask them to get into small groups and discuss a topic we were just talking about.
Hi Achla,
I have learned that when the instructor is fully invovled, the students are more engaged. Utilizing a variety of teaching methods is a great way to keep studnets' attention.
Patricia Scales
Cooperative groups help students contribute equally and learn from each other.
We need to see if our lectures are too easy or too difficult for the students. In both ways, they loose interest and become inattentive. Our way of presentation should be interesting too. Students tend to become inattentive if our tone is monotounous. First we as teachers need to get rid of factors for which we are responsible then we need to focus on student too. Walking around the classroom is one way. This way students don't have opportrunity to just go in their own world. We can schedle a discussion outside classroom with inattentive students. Splitting class in groups is another way.
I believe it identifying inattentive students is an art learned best with experience. Engaging the inattentive students is one way and conducting some type of physical exercise (i.e. group work, moving to another room for an activity) helps keep the inattentive student focused.
Yes, changing up what you are presently doing and going to a game always seems to get things popping in my class. A variety of working tools should be used in the classroom so you will be familiar with
all and be prepared to go to something different when needed.
Hi Thomas,
Long class! It is good to know that you confront your students when you realize they are not attentive. I am sure you do some hands-on activities to break the monotony in the classroom.
Patricia Scales
Place them in small groups
My class time is usually 5 hours in length, usually when I have students that are zoning out I can adjust my breaks accordingly and then catch the zoned students out of the classroom to find out if it is caused by the material- my delivery- or some outside force or circumstances.
Putting them in groups and requiring participation by all members.
I stop the lecture and ask random students questions or give real world scenarios and then start a class discussion. I ask the inattentive students to add to the answers or how they would handle the situation different. Sometimes if I see that the lecture is getting long or if I'm losing them, I'll have them stand and walk around and get their blood pumping. I always try to make the lecture fun and upbeat. I will move around the room or stand in the middle of the room, just so they will have to track me. I also add visual aids and sounds to my power point presentation.
Show them the value of the course as soon as possible. Make the value tangible to them and their goals. Have them vocalize these goals in order to get their "buy in" into the material.
Hi Shana,
Students like to be kept busy and active. Active learning is a great form of learning. Students learn by doing.
Patricia Scales
Engaging them often so they feel they must stay attentive knowing that they may soon be brought into class discussion or asked about the current subject matter.
I like to get students up and moving. I try to always have a stand by activity that groups students or allows them to move around to capture the inattentive student's attention.
Some ways to capture a student's attention include calling on them to answer a question, walking near their seating area, or breaking the class into groups where their input is needed.
