I have had the most success capturing student attention by mixing up my teaching methods and materials. For example, even though my classes are over 4 hour long, I try not to lecture for more than 1 hour at a time without a short break or a change to a different activity, such as small group work or individual assignments.
I use the whiteboard, PowerPoint, and mostly audio during my online seminars.
Audio is a great forum for demonstrating how to accomplish a given task. While demonstrating I repeat that they will be evaluated on what I am demonstrating.
I normally get students giving me pages of information! I find that most adult learners want to ensure that what they are learning have an 'immediate' effect on where they are now in their careers or see where it will take them in the future.
For example, I am teaching an Emerging Markets class and I had a student send me a very lengthy email telling me how they are a receptionist for a financial firm and CNN is playing all day on the monitors. Well, the student now understands the information from the reporters. That was indeed refreshing.
When I taught High School this technique worked and surprizingly it still works with adults. With a sincere voice I informed the class that the lecture today is amazing, there is so many tidbits of interesting information that you won't believe it. I can hardly stand the excitement. Are you ready for this? I then start off with something very interesting!
Even students who are not intune with me will listen, because they don't want to miss out on this interesting information and experience has shown that information will be on the next quiz!
Hi Jennifer,
Whenever you are moving around students tend to make themselves pay attention.
Patricia
Hi Casey,
It sounds like you are a big believer in ACTIVE learning. Students love active learning.
Patricia
Hello Beverlin,
What type of responses do you normally get?
Patricia
One way I like to capture students attention is to find out what they are involved in...professionally, and then ask questions as it relates to their work and the assignments.
I create activities that have students moving and participating in the course content. Students who are busy and engaged tend to stay focused on what is going on in the classroom.
Hi Eugene,
What do you do to try to make your students see the relevance of accounting, regardless of their major?
Patricia
Hi Mohan,
You made a good point, "without cauing any embarrassment. You never want to humiliate a student.
Patricia
When teaching on campus I move around the room. Online I will put a picture up that relates to the chat, for example an area that was clear cut.
Repeatedly call for their attention, without causing any embarrasement, by asking questions on the topic with a genuine intension of improving their attention span.
Thank You, I try to keep my students involed, but some just like to pass the class with a grade because they feel the field they are into is more interesting than Accounting.
Hello Eric,
Taking a break during lecture is always a good thing. Students need variation.
Patricia
Sometimes to get students attention it is easier to take a break from the lecture at hand and do an activity based upon what was just lectured about
Hello Catherine,
It's very time consuming, but it's worth it.
Patricia
Hi John,
Try guest speakers. They have a lot to offer to the students. Graduate guest speakers are my favorite because they are so inspiring.
Patricia
Hello Eugene,
You have very interesting topics for your students to discuss. These are very cpaturing.
Patricia
At the start of each class I have each student discuss the news and related topics to my Accounting Class, such as fraud or evasion, and we all know that there are enough fraud cases going on in the business world today.
