Reengaging off-task students
What some ways you can get off-task students reengaged in the class?
When I see students drifting I will tell them the best way to learn a subject is to teach it. I will call on students to come forward and teach the material or at least identify why this material is important for their career path.
Tasking/empowering these off task students for an additional task or objective. Give them a special assignment not as a form of punishment, but to re-engage their focus.
Shawn,
Great! A case study, story, or situation related to past work experiences will garner the attention of most groups very quickly. I tend to stay away from video's as that passive activity requires little engagement, even if students take notes or know there'll be a quiz. Sometime, just a quick activity to regroup everyone is all that is needed to get student back on topic.
Regards, Barry
I will often reach into my file of backup materials and present a case study for them to discuss or even a video just to break up the class session a bit.
Kelly,
This is a good way to use the textbook resource for teaching material beyond simply reading the material. You've got your students putting it into action as they proceed. That's great!
Regards, Barry
Bruce,
What you say is valid. I've read 20 minutes is the maximum time people stay interested in learning-related information (not entertainment-related). I don't how true, but frequent change-ups from one activity to another, to another will help keep an upbeat, flowing stream of new inforation that keeps the students interest and focus. Or, as you imply, a short story related to the course or career area will often reengage distracted students back on topic.
Regards, Barry
I break the chapter lecture up by giving different activities to them to accomplish inbetween sections.
I find that as an instructor that the attention span of the students is short so a change of pace is required for them to stay in tune with what is being taught. I find that a practical event in life to refrence is a plus it lets the student know that what they are learning is going to be revelant to life and they will need to use it they are not just wasting their time. I find that a state change will draw the student back a quick question and answer will usally do the trick as well.
Hi Amanda:
Great reply, as I think these are productive and relatively simple ways to reengage our students. Through participation, interest and attention is fostered. The caution in group assignments is to watch for socializing. Rotating among the groups will help monitor students staying on topic.
Regards, Barry
In order to get students back on track you can do question and answers , group assignments and allow the students to think critically amongst them. I think this will allow the students to get more involved in the lecture and information being presented
Hi Vickie:
Discussions are a great way to change-up the energy of the learning environment. Somthing else that may be great is to ask questions to the whole group, then ask random students what they think.
Regards, Barry
Hi Kevin:
These are great methods. Something to consider is alos never let students become disengaged in the first place by setting up the learning environment in an appropriate manner. For eample, how about on the first day of class, telling the group they will be asked questions throughout each class day and may be called on to answer the question at any given moment?
Regards, Barry
Hi Daniel:
Good - discussion can be a literal wake up to seemingly disinterested students. Discussions need to be monitored to make sure all are participating. If you are leading the discussion, random questioning and follow-up will keep everyone on their toes ("who will be called on next?").
Regards, Barry
I think an open discussion of the topic, as a breakor a literal break
Hi Geneva-Marie:
Great. These simple steps are often all it takes to get students reengaged. Other times it may be necessary to be a bit more aggressive, and change activities, or even format, such as from lecture to lab, or wriring exerc ise to discussion, etc. The goal is to keep the student focused and on target with the lesson material.
Regards, Barry
Hi Cristian:
Students drift off or lose attention if they are bored, don't understand, are unprepared, or feel there is no benefit to them to pay attention. Iny activity that addresses one of these (if that's the reason) will help get them back on track.
Simple techniques like standing next to a student, asking questions ramdomly, or having a student clarify or restate the last point work well. Sometimes more aggressive measures are needed such as changing activities. Good ones that involve small group discussion, changing to a lab activity, or even moving back and forth between different activities are contibute to better focosed and attentive students.
Regards, Barry
Sometimes during a 4 hour class students can become easily distracted and in turn end up off task. i try to mix up the classroom environment by every so often having students switch things up and lecture to the class as well as switching seats and sitting next to someone new and working with them on classroom activities.
I usually give them some assignments related to the topic, maybe I make them part of my demo
Hi Coleen:
That's a great example! Generally students lose interest if they feel there is little they can relate to, i.e., "what's in it for me"! Bringing the lesson home in a personalized way can make a difference.
Just as important are barriers, such as language, like you've stated. Addressing these can bring unfocused students back to attention and engaged.
Regards, Barry
