Keeping Students Interested in Subject Matter
I have found when I teach a subject that may have several 'mini-subjects' imbedded, the students can get lost easily. To help keep things moving along and the students engaged, I take a break btwn the 'mini subject' and apply it to a real life scenario/hands on activity when possible.
Has anyone else encountered a similar problem?
Hi Joan,
Your method moves the students into the active learner mode since they are the contributors. This should generate some for lively discussions and much learning.
Gary
I also have found that involving the students in the discussion vs delivering information to them makes them use critcal thinking, organizational skills and interaction between themselves.
Hi Thomas,
Great ideas for engaging the students. Thanks for sharing them. I can only imagine what some of the students write as they write their letters to their cell phone, etc. You have to be smiling as you read these papers.
Gary
I agree that students need examples of real world experiences and occurences, and that these should become regular aspects of classroom management. In addition, however, it sometimes works to shift away from the real world and introduce a class project that is fanciful or creative. For example, I teach vocabulary in a business communications course. To stimulate an interest in the words themselves, and to teach writing skills at the same time, I require students to use the new words each week in a creative assignment such as writing a "love" letter from the perspective of Romeo to Juliet or a letter to their favorite object such as a cell phone or a denim jacket. These mini-projects create a sense of fun, yet become challenges for ultimate learning.
I completely agree. Students really like real world topics. I also think that students nowadays are tech savvy and it is so important to keep the material varied. I like to combine regular course material with videos, podcasts, etc. They tend to pick the way they like to receive material, and learn it that way.
Annie,
I have experienced students becoming disinterested in certain topics. Its hard to get them to stay motivated but the closer they can relate it to their real-world work experiences the more interested they become. I have the most difficulty with students that do not have experience in the industry, but are in training to get the knowledge and start working in the industry. They cannot relate to many of the concepts so I inundate them with examples and hands-on labs to give them experience. The more examples they receive, the more they understand the concepts and more interested they become.
As a mathematics instructor, I find the best way to keep students engaged is through questions, answers, and their real world experiences. Having a question and answer period I can determine the knowledge students may have about the topic of study and then I can determine the best approach to present the topic that encompasses their prior knowledge and achieve a greater understanding of the topic.
