I feel moving around towards them, and then getting them involved into a dicussion or exercise works good.
I always try to make each student involved by discussion insted of lecture. I find that asking them to participate with their experiences or education helps keep all students envolved.
In our course, we tell all the students at the outset that they will have various small group projects. Students seem to pay attention when they know that they will have to participate with their peers. They do not want to be the person who does not understand what is trying to be accomplished with the group exercise.
I often ask inattentive students questions about the material I am presenting to bring them back into focus. Sometimes this works, but I really appreciate the advice and strategies contained in this course. I am looking forward to trying the "minute papers" and "use it wisely" cards.
i stay moving around the room, trying to get everone involved. showing them how much I like what Im doing
Yes , this is a great way to help students who may be "zoneout". The lecturing for 20 minutes and then do an activity works great and students like the change. It helps keep students focus and interested in topic being presented.
I agree with all the strategies presented. I will have students read the chapter ahead of time and then bring to class two questions to discuss.
Accessing different styles of learning abbilities throughout the class.
make the class as fun as possible and still learn
From the material the first thing is to look at my material being presented. See it if it is too difficult or too easy. I teach technology and the biggest problem I have been having is that they were not prepare in a prior class or that the prerequisites or not correct for some of the courses. I have been trying to address that issue. So, I remind them if there is something that they are not sure of or not clear to stop me and ask question. Of course there is the group, seating, minute paper, schedule discussion strategies. Since part of their grade is attendance and class participation I remind of them of and that it is an easy percentage of their grade. I let them know that there is not point deduction for wrong answers but of course I would want them to have the right one. I let them know that it will let me know several things that if they are grasping the material, not pay attention, and preparing for class. I ask the same question to all of them. If I find or suspect that they are repeating the answer of another student I ask them to explain and elaborate on their answer. Some will confess they state the answer because of the other student. It gets most back on tract, not all.
I will be the first to admit that sometimes the subject material is dry and can easily result in a degree of inattentivenes from the student. Some ways that I try to minimize that occurrence or recapture their attention is by walking around the room and randomly asking students questions related to what was just addressed in class, or by using appropriate humor to make it interesting, play an impromptu hang-man based on material that had been covered , or sometimes sing a one-liner or phrase that may be tangentially related to terms in the topic being covered. I also do brief reviews interspersed with the lecture and have students participate in reading from the powerpoints rather than only having me give the information from it.
Initially I will try to re-engage an inattentive student by calling on him/her, usually with an easy question to boost their confidence. If that fails then bringing them up front to participate in a demonstration can either capture their attention or cause them to be more attentive in the future so I don't call on them to demonstrate again!
Hi James,
When I do group assignments, I always make sure I have a student in the group who excels academicly.
Patricia Scales
To regain the attention of students I like to put them in groups and sometimes assign the students who need help to be paired with students who are doing good with the content. The class pace can sometimes not be challenging enough for some students who have transferred and have already taken the course equivalent. For those students I like to place them in leadership roles as we complete projects.
The following are ways that I would use to capture the attention of and inattentive student: Break the class into smaller groups to work on a project, show how the material will directly support their career goal, bring in a guest speaker, get the class up and get the moving, or show a video or youtube clip to vary my teaching style.
Hi Rhonda,
Great response! I like how you get the inattentive student involved by asking for suggestions as to how to make the class more enticing.
Patricia Scales
It is important to make your expectations very clear. Give good examples and always follow through with your expectations. It is very important to be consistent. Always review your demonstration material as it might be too difficult or too easy. When you have an inattentive student, you might move to the area where the student sits when you lecture. It is important to meet with inattentive student outside of class time to discuss behavior manner during class. Ask them to give suggestions ways to improve class that may help them engage. Spliting class into smaller groups will help inattentive student with team building as their input is necessary for the group. I like the minute paper idea. Getting all students to briefly summarize the material presented for the day.
If I notice a student who isnt focused on the lecture I will call on them to take part in the discussion or lecture; this enables me to brring them back in to the content that im teaching without embarsing themin front of other students
I use a combination of things to get them to engage. While power points are available I use them as a guide as they relate to the textbook. However, I include examples how students can benefit from the knowledge gained from the course. I try to relate to the student and their backgrounds and ask questions that lead them to see how this could be of some value to them
