Hi Karen,
You are right! It is human nature to want to feel important. I like how you get your students involved with helping. This is great practice to help prepare for the real world. After graduating, it is all about work.
Patricia
Hi Linda,
What a great way to teach students about responsibility. Students must learn how to be held accountable.
Patricia
Hi Michelle,
We must do what we can to keep our students focused. With long classes, I take them outside for a 5-minute walk. They come back more focused. Try it, it works beautifully.
Patricia
I try to incorporate humor, life experiences, and hands-on activities into each class. I find students redirect attention when you share an interesting story of something you experienced in your career or life. Pictures of disease processes also are attention grabbers. If the classes are long I try to incorporate some form of stretching or movement to increase the heart rate.
I gave an inattentive student the job of writing on the white board objective each morning, I would write it out and she would complete the mission and is now paying attention in class.
What are some examples of what you do to liven up a dry subject?
I insure that my lecture is not the source of boredom. Some subject matter is dry but can be livened up to assist those students who have a problem with attention span.
I spend time making sure that each student gets called upon. I also walk around my classroom and even stop and teach from near the inattentive students.
I assign one student to be the "reporter" for the day. This keeps them tuned in and shows them how it feels to take responsibility in their future job.
Ask the student a question about your subject matter.
I would have that student be my helper by passing out hand outs, setting up required materials for demonstrations etc. Everyone wants to feel important.
I have found that asking these students pointed questions about the material that has just been presented works well to bring them back into the class. After spending 26 years in the military, I find that the direct approach usually works best.
I make sure to always ask questions to those less than attentive students. It may catch up off gaurd, but they do tend to pay more attention for the rest of the lecture.
Tom,
I also use the student who is a "little bored" in my classes to help the other students out who don't quite yet have a grasp of the subject. It is very rewarding for the student to share their knowledge and it is also rewarding for me as the instructor to see students take the time to help their fellow students.
Dr. Anderson,
I've used this activity to get my students attention and it always works out well. The students enjoy the break from an instructor lecturing to them and gives them the opportunity to explain a subject matter to their fellow students.
Because of the nature of the classes I teach (Basic Computer Skills), often the "inattentive" person is one who is a little bored. It's easy to do some initial assessment of topics to know who possesses what skills. I go out of my way to get that person involved in assisting another student because of "their expertise." They rarely turn down the opportunity.
Have the students present a portion of the chapter. Divide the class into small groups and have each of the group members be responsible for a portion of the mini-lessions.
Students prefer being actively involved in the learning process nd retain information better when they are an integral part of the teaching/learning experience.
There are many way to capture students attention. What is primary is that an student needs to know that by paying attention they will be getting something out of it. Up front tell the students you except them to be involved that there grades depend on it, this will motative those students who shoot for good grades. For the students who are not motatived by grades show them how this will help them reach their goals. I also move around alot and will do state changes if I feel that class leacture is gong long and that I am starting to lose the class.
There are quite a few ways some examples are, walk around the class when asking questions or doing a lecture,stand by or near that particular preson making him/her aware that you notice them,bring in guest speakers in a particular field , make student groups so they can study and/or work on assignments together.Re-think your lesson if you think its tooo boring.
