Hi Vickie,
The instructor sets the tone for the energy level. Enthusiasm begins with the instructor.
Patricia Scales
What a good idea! I know when I've attended lectures where the presenter seemed to have a lot more energy than me -- it has taken me a while to "catch up" to the presenter’s energy level.
Hello Nagib,
I agree. Our classes start at 6:00AM. It is challenging to keep lecture interesting and interactive at that time. I generally have our most energetic and enthusiastic instructors teach at that time. Getting student immediately involved is the key.
Being a student for long before I became an instructor, I knew how I liked energetic teachers more than the ones that were just smart.
Jumping around the room and using voice tones has helped me to keep the ineterests of most students. Still the morning class is always harder to stir than the afternoon class.
Hi Richard,
Students love hearing stories as they apply to the lesson. Humor is good, but humor does not have to be a part of the story.
Patricia Scales
Hi, Roger. I think your point of including a story or personal reflection is a good way to inject active learning into a lecture. That is not to say everything has to have a comedic twist, but even asking a student to offer a reflection on the topic being discussed.
Hi Roger,
Use variety in teaching methods so that students are not bored, try visuals, role playing, hands-on activities, scenarios, simulations, case studies, etc.
Patricia Scales
Plain lectures are tuff and boring on students and instructors, especially at 7:00AM. I find it more difficult to just stand there and talk, as I watch some of the students get the 1000 mile stare, you know they are awake but nobody’s home. Now granted some information that is covered by lecturing is BOOOORING to lecture about so the instructor needs to find a way to keep the students attention, this is where active participation is needed, find interesting facts, historical information, and a funny story. Then maybe a little discussion will help. But the instructor will need to maintain control.
Hi Larry,
Wow, 6 a.m. is extremely early. The instructor has to be motivated and energized themselves in order to get the students into the daily routine.
Patricia
i very much like the "wifm" to start but i think you should add to it "what is in it for the student" especially for the lost student
-- ask pointed question to bring them along fot the ride!
ps i wish i had 7am, our classes are now starting at 6am talk about sleepy head!!!
I always preferred lecture when I was a student. I was allowed to think on my own time and learned more in the time frame given than with group activities. Whenever we finished group work, I found that I didn't come away with much. This could be because I did most of the work and didn't gather much new information from my peers.
Hi Josette,
These are times of the day that you really need to add variety to lessons, and you need to be really energetic to get the students into it.
Patricia
When I conduct a lecture I like to use the WIFM approach. For those who are not familiar with WIFM it stands for "What's In It For Me." I look at my audience and taylor the material to my audience as much as possible. If I can successfully taylor my lesson to the needs of my class the lectures become much less boring to the student.
Hi Eloise,
No one likes bordem. This is a good way to get students going again. I typically try to add some humor while lecturing and use plenty of variety for teaching methods.
Patricia
I think I will have to try that.
I have two classes of A&P each afternoon,one right after lunch and one the last period of the day. In either one, some are drowsy or asleep before you know it. A&P is not the most exciting of topics. If they only could grasp the importance that learning this material and its impact has on the rest of their careers, and believe me I have tried to impress this upon them.
Before we begin I have the class stand and do a physical warm up- no matter what the topic I am teaching-I find it helps bring the energy back to the group and of course- me!
If you enjoy what you are doing then the energy will be there. If not then maybe it is time to teach a different course
Hi Charles,
Simply say to yourself each night, I owe it to these students to give them everything I have, and they deserve just as much enthusiasm as Day students. It can be hard you just have to continue to stay energized.
Patricia
I find if I give the students something to DO, not just listening or taking notes, it makes a lot of difference. For example, a pre-test. Before the lecture, try giving them ten questions about the material you're going to talk about. See how much they already know. Also, you can give them a short-answer test about why this material is important. That will set them up to listen better. Also, always try to have some kind of demonstration or model with you for them to look at and get "hands on" with. Keep them BUSY.
I am a part time instructor during the evenings. After a long day of work at my day job, I have found it difficult some nights to enter the class with lots of energy. Perhaps I can somehow pep myself up before going into the classroom. Any other suggestions for re-energizing before class?
Also, with limited time to find activities, I use a wonderful resource that offers a lot of active learning lessons in my field (English). I adapt them for my classes and some of them have worked really well.
