I have had success with keeping the lights on during powerpoint presentations as well. I also try to ask questions from the powerpoints as I go along. I make sure to break after 1 hour and I insist students get up and move around. They laugh at me when I get after them - but they do it!
I teach 4 hour classes in the evening (all law based to boot) so I try to incorporate many different techniques to help keep students attention. I do small group work, student led teach backs (within the small groups and to the entire class), role plays, mock court trials, games, etc. I try to walk around the room and avoid staying in the front of the class for an extended period of time. I also ask the students for feedback and what type of activity keeps them engaged and interested in the topic.
Being prepared and plan my material to reach all types of learner. Stand by students when they are distracted, Tell a interesting story that goes with the subject at hand to wake them and a bring them back to the class. Discuss review by group discussion. I always have a new seatiing chart each term and let the studnets know that is is subject to change if need be. I also enforce the class as well as the work field.
We have three hour blocks for lecture. Usually we do an hour and a half of lecture; a half hour break, and then an additional hour of lecture. This lost a lot of student's attention. Now, we are breaking up the half hour break into two 15 minute sections so they can take breaks more frequently. Also, I utilize as much group assignments as I can to keep the learning interactive and student driven.
Robin
I feel having the class as more of a discussion rather than a lecture works well. Randomly calling on students to answer questions keeps all students on the ball.
Hi Spring,
Our students take a 10-minute break every hour at my institution as well. The students come after break reenergized and ready to go another 50 minutes.
Patricia Scales
Make yourselves be prepared and organized at all times, make your topic interesting and relate the topic how it will connect to their career through success.
I too keep a light on when using PowerPoint for presentations. Our students are required to take a 10 minute break every hour which makes it nice for them.
There are a couple of things that I do in order to keep students engaged in class. The first is to tell them that there will be a quiz on the material at the end of the class. The second is to relate the why factor into the dicussions. It seems that students as well as myself like to understand the why factor and the WIIFM (what's in it for me) factors. Additionally, trry to incorporate hands on skills where you can and remember that not all students learn alike. Therefore we cannot continue to teach the same and expect different results.
Spring Coulter
I run lecture as a discussion period. Instead of my students listening in a passive manner I ask questions, view points, or personal history in a situation. This forces a group discussion.
•Seat the student near the teacher for instruction.
•Provide a quiet area for seat work or consider a study carrel, stall, or cubicle.
•Pair the student near others who model appropriate study habits. Watch the situation to ensure the model students are able to work. If this arrangement causes unfair disruption of their work, try another method.
•Ensure students have adequate physical space between them.
•Increase the amount of time the student has to complete the task.
I use any number of methods from walking around the room to using a hands on activity. I make sure to change the intonation of my voice and engage students in question and answer.
I have a 2 hour class and I try to walk around the class room and engage each student in the discussion. If I notice that there are other discussions going on that are not on the class material I try to have a group activity. I find that the students enjoy these activities. But when I have a student who is frequently having trouble attending to the class, I will talk to him/her individually to try to find out what is going on.
Show them that you are willing to go the extra mile by getting them involved in group activites. Stand by them when you are lecturing, include them in dicussion questions in class, have everyone at the end of class write down on a piece of paper what they learned or walked away from today's lecture. Keep them motivated and engaged.
Hi James,
Laughter is always good! It is a good way to rejuvenate the students.
Patricia Scales
Hi Rick,
It is magical. If possible, I even like to hold class outside from time to time.
Patricia Scales
I think in a four hour class sometimes you need to capture their attention more then once. I do this by sometimes telling a joke that might pertain to the class, or giving a good example of how what we are doing in class pertains to what they will be doing in their careers.
I do the same thing...ten to fifteen minutes of walking around campus as a class usually helps them refocus when enduring 4 hours of lecture
My classroom has a computer at each work station. At the beginning of each new class (Modular Program) I set the guidelines for the use of computers as well as how long the Lectures will be. All student know that during lecture there is to be no side work done, and no computer turned on. In exchange I will limit my daily lectures to 1-1.5 hour sessions. This is a win win situation for the students. Since I have started this over 2 years ago I have very limited problems with inattentive students.
Hi Nashon,
Continue to cheer your students on.
Patricia Scales
