Keeping students interested.
How do we keep students interested in subject matter. We all have different learning skills. We need to access the class as a whole. We see the good the bad and the ugly. First, are students excited about taking the course? Second, is the instructor in tune with student needs? Third, get to know how each individal learns. What leavel are they at? I cover these points when in our first meeting. Make them comfortable.
Hi Jeanie:
I think an important key is identifying what is most important and how can I best present it. This principle is true for classes of all sizes, ages, and purpuses.
Regards, Barry
This is a wonderful way to teach special ed classrooms, and you can make it as hard or as simple as coloring in the alphabet.
Hi Steve:
Talking about real-world scenarios is an excellent way to keep students interested. This is especially true if your class is a career based course.
Regards, Barry
Hi Johnny:
That's it exactly! Most agree that using a variety of presentation methods is the most effective way to keep it as interesting as possible while at the same time reinforce every learning style there is.
Regards, Barry
Hi Marilyn:
This is an excellent technique - when we use real life situations, especially those that have happened to us as the instructor, it is often easier to feel suddenly more passionate about that topic.
That passion gets conveyed to the student, which usually results in more interest in that topic.
Regards, Barry
Hi Thongsamay:
I'm with you. I believe too that students like stories, situations, case studies, or examples from their work setting. This helps keep attention and is memorable.
Regards, Barry
I found that students really like to hear the real life experiences. It helps connect the content that they are learning to the real life practice of their career.
In my courses in business I try to tell the stories I learned in my thirty years in the business world. That seems to be what most students remember about the course.
always keep students learning the curriculum with different types of teaching methods. I usually play games with the subject that the students enjoy. I also take time to show them ways to memorize materials easily using index cards, color, etc.Role play and group activities help the most. I also change tests to keep them going. Ask them what they prefer tests should have.(Ex: mult. choice, t or f, fill in, matching etc.) Making it easier for them to learn the curriculum and subject.
Hi Tammy:
Stories, case examples, work related examples - all these capture the interest and attention of students. Whenever I feel the class is dragging, I'll relate a story from the "field" and and it nearly always refocuses folks back to topic. When we share stories, we're reaching into an area that students perceive as having an interest, so they'll pay attention. It's personal.
Regards, Barry
I love giving my students real life examples because it puts their chosen career path into perspective for them. Some of them don't really know what kind of career they are getting into.
I also give my students real life experiences that are related to whatever I am teaching at the time. I have been in the Medical Profession for 40 years--so have a lot of stories to tell.
Hi Elizabeth:
I think when student realize there is something that will benefit them, or piques their interest, they'll pay attention.
All teachers have had students that appear bored, tired, disinterested, unprepared, non-participative. To re-engage, we need to snap them out of their lethary. Tell an interesting story, case study, or something from your work past that's amazing or nearly unbelieveable. People like stories and will usaully respond. Once you've got their attention, merge back to the topic.
You can also change activities, get students moving around with demonstrations, or discussion groups. Change-ups like these sometimes are needed when the whole class just seems not fully there.
Regards, Barry
I do try to keep my students interested by giving various dictation, current up-to-date information. I believe that keeps them listening and attentive to the material at hand.
Hi Dennis:
I think when students see there is value to them in the topic, they will pay attention. So, if they are truly interested in the career or profession being taught, they will be more likely to pay attention and stay focused when we keep the topic aligned with the work setting. Case studies, examples of past work situations, horror stories about things that can go wrong, these things interest students and help keep their attention too.
Regards, Barry
All students learn in different ways. Some are "bookworms" and some learn by others, groups, and visual learners. We need to be sensitive towards the way our students learn to have them be successful
Hi Elizabeth:
I like to call what you've described "creating a connection". When we can achieve that with our students, we have greater access to their ability to pay attention, listen to what we have say and teach, and overall, achieve better student learning outcomes.
Keeping students interested in part has to do with waht interests them. So, being natural in our delivery, free and genuine in our interactions, truely caring about waht others think and accepting them, these traits will help with creating that connection, that open door to being receptive.
If a student feels we care, they're going to be motivated to try harder and maybe be inspired to go beyond the minimum expectations. What's cool, is all have our own unique versions of how to portray these simple courtesies that can have great influence over their performance.
Regards, Barry
I think this is very important when you are learning about a class. I always start the class by having each person introduce themselves and find out something about them. If I am going to teach them I need to know what makes them tick. What motivates them as a whole. By the introduction I can find out how they are when talking in public, what their personalities are like, how they speak, and etc. After they all talk about themselves in the first class then I let them know who I am and I am available to them. Knowing they have someone who has their back.
Cecilia:
An interested student will certainly pay attention, and therefore do better in the class. To keep up the interest level, I think being enthusiastic about the profession they are entering, and keep refering back to the work they will be doing - this keeps the goal of what they're studying about fresh and desirable, and hopefully interested.
Regards, Barry
