Hi James,
Great! This is a perfect way to keep students' minds active, focused and their attention on task. More variety just makes class more interesting and enjoyable for all.
Barry Westling
By changing the current class activity. Moving from lecture to discussion or discussion to demonstration can have a re engaging effect on students in the classroom.
Hi Sheree,
Excellent! I've done that, and similar "break the funk" activities that take maybe 4-5 miutes tops, and enjoyed excellent results: students refreshed, minds reset, atmosphere open and conducive to learning.
Barry Westling
In one of my classes, I was able to quiet the students and do a relaxing breathing chi gung exercise. It got them grounded. I was then able to continue with the lesson.
Hi Laura,
Right. Getting students focused may have to do with why they're unfocused in the first place. Sometimes, just simple techniques work, other times, changing activities is needed. It kind of depends on many factors, and how many students are involved (one student vs. 3/4 of the class).
Barry Westling
There are a variety of reasons why students may be off-task. To re-engage students, move the class in a different direction; have them engage in a different activity working in groups or teams. If that strategy is uneffective, the instructor should take a status assessment.
Hi Randall,
Normally participants in this class (ED105) position reengagement from the standpoint of distracted students and methods to get them refocused. But I recognize off-task certainly applies to those on the brink of or have reached a point of no return, so it's good to dialog about this aspect of student retention. Your last rotation may not have been as successful as you may have desired, but I firmly believe the instructor/teacher/facilitator has the greatest influence on student retention. Personality may contribute to a small degree. But most students are open to teachers who display genuine concern for their performance in class. Kind, caring (compassionate?) encouragement, if taken as authentic and sincere can create an optimism in many students who would have otherwise given up. These are sentiments that are really the makings of a true teacher, and are the true champions of excellence in a program.
Barry Westling
Randall Aungst
ED105: What some ways you can get off-task students reengaged in the class?
Forum 3
Barry Westling, Facilitator
This is an issue that is near and dear to me. From time to time I have a rotation where there is a large degree of drop out and failure. I try to alter my approach to reengagement each time by increasing the level of communication opportunities that the students in question have. While I do not have access to their phone numbers to call them I do have access to their campus and personal e-mail accounts. As such in addition to the normal communication that all my students receive, in the form e-mail and posted announcements in the virtual campus classroom, I extend additional, individually specific, e-mail communications with those students having issues. In these e-mails, which I send out about 24 to 72 hours after each task due date or one to two times per week, I express my concerns, review tasks they are missing, reiterate how they can reengage, offer my direct assistance, suggest other assistance that is available to them and encourage them to call me on the phone to discuss the situation and their options. Unfortunately during these select rotations, like this last rotation, it seems that this approach is not effective. It makes me feel like the old saying goes, “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make them drink.†Ultimately, as instructors, while we do have some control regarding how accessible engagement is and how well those opportunities for engagement are we have no control over the choices that students make. Much of the feedback received is from students that are engaged in the class and therefore it is difficult to receive answers regarding what made the student disconnect from disengaged students. The exception to this comes from students that disconnect due to life issues such as health, technical problems or family and job issues that interfere. These students, with the exception of serious health issues, usually reengage at some point and are able to finish the class satisfactorily. The remaining students that disengage just seem to fall off the map and do not communicate or even attempt to communicate in any way. To this I have not found a successful strategy or solution.
Hi John,
Good thinking. Having a deadline may get students refocused. I've also had successful experience with small (2-3) group exercises where following discussion, some sort of class presentation was expected. With a deadline of 20 minutes preparation, then class preparations, students feel the need to get it together.
Barry Westling
Assign them a task that needs to be completed within a timed period. Don't assign a project that they cannot complete. If it's something that can be completed it just might get them motivated to the task at hand to complete my course.
Hi Dellene,
These are good techniques, especially if you sense the students just are not going to focus. It's unfortunate that having to resort to such tactics needs to occur. But if the material is related to the subject matter, then it probably is better than wasting student (and teacher) time if students are not paying attention anyway.
Barry Westling
Hi Alvin,
Often, students get disengaged just for a short period, either from disinterest, being tired, not understanding, not prepared, or distracted by other thoughts. Sometimes this can be remedied by "techniques", such as breaking away for a few minutes and randomly asking questions of students, or even just circulating among the seats as class prgresses. These "mechanics" can assist the teacher getting the attention of students, then getting them refocused. As you say, discussion is a good way to bring students back on topic, too.
Barry Westling
I will have a handout or a puzzle ready to break-up the class time so I can get the students back into the lesson.
Some ways to reengage off-task students are observe what is going on in the classroom. Breaking the class into small groups for a case study or a problem lets you see if there is still a disconnect between you and the students. Also, a status assessment can be given to the students.
Hi Laura,
I believe the small discussion group provides one of the best ways to inhance learning in an interesting and relaxed format. One caveat I watch for is that students stay on topic so the discussion doesn't lead to socializing about non-class activities.
Barry Westling
Breaking into small groups to preform group exercise, then each group having it's turn to present their findings, makes a very happy classroom, and creates unity among the students...in other words...break it up a little...not just "lecture" is going to keep students motivated and engaged!
Hi David,
Yes - small group discussion almost forces one into a participation mode. A real key is to make sure the discussion is something the students find value in: competition with other groups; key information about one component integral to comparison with other components to be discussed, etc. In general, the closer the student can see where their interaction in the group is related to the career field the student will work in the more interested students are likely to be.
Barry Westling
When I was in college, I recall a professor that regularly split up the class into small groups. I often found myself zoning out because the content was not as relavent to me as it might be to other people. Once these small groups were made, it forced me to bring back my attention to the course content. Until now, I didn't understand why this particular professor was doing this but now I can see how this could benefit some of the students that I interact with.
Hi John,
Another good technique is to start at the end. Share a story or give an example of why they will need this information first. Understanding why students need to learn the information beforehand can make them more interested in learning how to reach that goal. And sharing it with enthusiasm captures attention too.
Barry Westling
Hi Timothy,
I think students become disengaged because they are disinterested, unpreprepared, don't understand, are ill, sleepy or tired, or significant back side of their life events are occupying their thoughts (financial, relationships, child care, personal stress or worries). Being upbeat and enthusiastic seems to energize a sluggish class. Bringing the lesson back to the core of why they are studying this material, it's importance, and relating it to their profession can be helpful. Asking students to discuss a topic individually then present to the class helps induce participation. Every situation is different but being understanding (rather than critical) can go a long way to getting student focsed on class topics.
Barry Westling
