Engaging Students
I feel sometimes I have trouble keeping some of my students engaged during my lectures. I often use power point presentation to help me stay on track and also to give them a visual. I often expand on what is written on the slide but I often have students that try to write down everything that is on the slide and that I say. What can I do to keep my students engaged and help them to understand the purpose of a lecture.
I am big on using games as reviews for big tests and finals. I am trying something new this Module with my students- I am going to incorporate online class assignments, as well as online articles with review questions. Students are all about computers, so why not incorporate some of it into the classroom.
PJ,
I agree. PowerPoint presentations are more engaging (for students) when there is limited text. Instructors should reduce the content to just: images, charts/graphs or short captions, when creating their presentations. Slides with a lot of text, can reduce the amount of student engagement and negatively effect the "pacing" of the lecture (students will take more time to "copy down" all of the notes from the slides).
Tremayne Simpson
I have found over many trial and error years of teaching that Powerpoint is an effective tool for visual learners if you make the slides mostly illustrative or picture oriented. You see the picture on the slide and it initiates your next area of discussion rather than adding alot of text. I sometimes project powerpoint onto a whiteboard and use markers to illustrate things I want them to take notes on. I can decide how in depth to go based on time, questions that day, etc. I also put links in my powerpoints to illustrate different ideas for learners that may be more kinesthetic or feeling oriented. For examply, I teach in a massage school and cover Asian bodywork methods. In a discussion like 5-element theory when we talk about Fire element and the qualities of that energy in the human experience, we may watch a link of a performance where someone is expressing the passion of fire (singing, an artist quick-sketching an object, etc.). In this way, students get an offering of not only a conceptual experience of the material but a nonconceptual, experiential offering as well. Often on course evals, these are the things students have commented they like and remember most.
WENDY,
I agree. In addition, instructors should limit the amount of text in each slide, in order to assist in keeping the students engaged during the lecture. When they spend their time "copying down text", they are not able to participate in the discussion.
Tremayne Simpson
Powerpoint is great. Instructors put in a lot of work on the lecture/presentation. It is unfortunate that some students are bored and less interactive when powerpoint is used daily. I think that the key is finding a balance by stopping often during the lecture to engage the students so that they can reflect on the material and interact with you and their classmates.
Elizabeth,
I agree with this point. Selecting students to participate in discussions can be a little difficult. More than likely, they are "avoiding" the discussion for a specific reason (anxiety, did not study the material, etc.), therefore an instructor must be positive in their approach, in order to avoid a negative interaction.
Tremayne Simpson
I really think that I will put more effort into getting to know my students. I have found the quicker I get their names down the faster I get their respect. Once I see they start to travel into "lala land", I call their name and get them into the lecture. I do it in a positive way though so their not engaged by embarrassment or anger.
We do utilize power point, but I am a pastry instructor, and I find that my students fall asleep or begin amusing drawings if the presentation goes on too long. I've found that by interspersing active demos (product id, mixing doughs using a variety of flours to measure the different gluten development) works well for my students. The combination of information then active demo based on what they just learned is a very effective way to get the information across and have the students retain it (at least a larger portion of it!).
I too use Power Point slides to stay on track. I also have the students print them out (3 to a page with note taking on the side). This keeps their attention, gives them a better opportunity to take notes and when they study for tests, they can follow their notes and the slides. I also use practice problems throughout my lecture that I have students come up to the smartboard to complete.
I teach courses that are 2hrs and 3hrs long and it is very difficult to keep them engaged. I have created fill-in handouts that follow my PowerPoint lectures so they don't have to write everything down but they do need to follow the lecture in order to get the complete information. In addition, I ask questions of the class throughout the lecture -- these may be about previous PP slides or previous lectures that are relevant to the current lecture. I have in-class exercises for students to work on after each lecture topic (such as crossword puzzles) that allow them to review the material, then review that exercise in class. Adding the questions and exercises helps keep them involved and engaged.
Claudia,
I have used this method as well. I find that if students expect to receive an activity or in-class assignment, they tend to be more engaged with the lecture and actively participate. More than likely, they will "tune out" if they feel that they will not need to immediately apply the learned information.
Tremayne Simpson
We are supplied Power points for every course and required to use them. I have found that giving students outlines for their notes, and stopping every so often to discuss or elaborate on something, or even to do a short exercise using what they have just seen and heard, helps to keep them from disengaging.
I utilize PowerPoint to guide the lesson, but in addition our school purchased an Audience Response Program/ Software and Smartboards. Utilizing these two devices allow the students to have fun while learning and actively participate in the classroom topic/ discussion.
I have the same issues as you have mentioned. I also do power points, I use video's as well as lecturing and adding personal experiences from the workforce. Our work is strictly book work and have no labs, so we are sitting for 4 hours. It is difficult to engage the students each and every day.
Hello,
I find it interesting that your students like the PowerPoint presentations because mine do not enjoy them. I wonder if it is because we teach different programs (my students are in criminal justice classes and may be more engaged with presentations that are stimulating). For example, my students enjoy listening to music while studying, but students from another program are distracted by music and noise.
One idea that has worked for me: I have made note taking guides for my students so that they have to fill in some blanks, but they don't have to write everything that is on the slide. It is more work for me, but it helps the students.
Rita,
I agree. The Power Point should serve as a supplement for the lecture, however it should not dominate the students' attention.
Tremayne Simpson
I have found that while power points are a wonderful visual aid, students do tend to want to write down everything that is on each slide. I try to mix it up and condense the powerpoint and keep it on my monitor so that only I can see it and I utalize my book and the power point. This allows me more time to dive in to the areas and keep the class interested.
I find I have the same issue. The students love the power point presentations, but want to write every word down and while they are copying the information, they are not listening to the explaination. One method that has helped, is to allow only one sentence or point to come up on the screen at a time. This way, there is a small amount of info for them to copy and I can provide the "lecture" part and have their attention so that they dont miss important information.
LaTavia,
I agree. PowerPoints created by publishers can be used as sources for personalized slides, however they should not be used for the class lecture. For the most part, the presentations are a little "too general" and lack the "personal touch" that engage the students.
Tremayne Simpson
