appealing to students in different ways
it is very easy to loose focus when learning anything. it is important to keep things exciting in the classroom. we need to keep the students interested in learning.
Hi Jodi:
Another great thing about discussions is that it might help students who aren't understanding something by hearing it from another classmate, just due to the fact it's being described in a different way, or from a different voice.
Regards, Barry
I find that mixing class up helps students learn. Although the main focus of my instruction is through Powerpoint slides, I have students read the slides and discuss them with the students so they can bring in personal experiences. I also relate it to things I have gone through to make the topic more real for them. However, I also make sure there are activities in every class such as Mad Gab to learn listening skills and Moods to learn nonverbal communication. When teaching process analysis essay writing, I had my students write a short paragraph on how to make a PB&J sandwich and then they had to exchange papers and make sandwiches for their classmates based on what was written on the paper. I find that the more active I can keep my students, the more willing they are to learn and the more we connect.
Most students are from different backgrowns,discussion can help bring them together.
Hi Brenda:
Discussion and stories are almost always good methods to keep the attention and students involved. Student can relate to these methods better than listening to a passive anything.
Regards, Barry
I also try to keept the students involved in my lectures. I stop and we have many small discussions throughout the class content. I also like to break lecture up with some hands on activities.
One way I try to keep students focused and engauged is to invole them in the lecture when ever possible. I find that it keeps them aware of what's going on and helps them remeber the content
When teaching environmental science, I find that talking about topics from current events, or better yet, from local current news helps encourage students to focus on the content of environmental problems and their possible solutions. If the issue is a local one, it can engage the student in a personal way, thereby making the coursework relevant.
I agree with you keeping focus can be challenging
