New Instructor
I teach a 6 am class - what are some easy ways to get students motivated at the beginning of class since some are still half asleep.
Hi Doug,
I like to start my classes (I teach from 4 until 10 pm) with an activity. Since my students are coming directly from work to class they need some time to refocus their minds. After the activity, which is like an ice breaker, we go into the course content, then we may go into group work. Keep in mind I start the course by having the night's objectives on the board and I review them with the students so they know what is coming.
We take a dinner break and then use the model of approximately 15-20 lecture and then activity of some kind. The last 30 minutes of the class I play a review game to get them use the new material one more time before we leave. A game my students like is Jeopardy.
Gary
When starting an evening class from 6pm to 10pm, what do you recommend to break the ice and get people involved in the learning process?
Hi Travis,
This is a great point about needing some time to just come down and get settled into the course for the night. Since I teach evenings and nights I need to remember this point as I approach the classroom and give my students a bit of downtime with an activities or ice breaker so they can get focused on the night's content.
Gary
As a night student for many years I also enjoyed this type of "ice breaker" It allowed me to settle in after a long day at work, relieve some of the pent up stress from the day and socialize with my classmates. After working in a stressful environment and going through an hour of traffic to get to class, it was nice to get a chance to settle down. Once I was in a clamer state it was much easier for me to focus on the instructor instead of having my mind still stuck in survival mode. The problem with me was that I was so amped up fomr the day it made it hard for me to focus, sleep was not so much the issue, it was that I needed to see the classroom as a safe place where I could leave the "real world" for awhile and just learn.
Travis Montavon
I am a new instructor as well, my class is going to be held in the mornings. I am excited to start teaching theory, but carry the same worries as the previous instructor, how to keep them awake and focused. I think that getting the class involved in a discussion is a good idea. Participation provides encouragement in the classroom to all different types of learning styles.
Garrett,
I also use short interactive discussions (i.e. weekend happenings/plans, something "good that happened to you yesterday"). I feel this slowly warms up the students for constructive conversation. I try to stay alert and postive to project or model that for the students.
Gabriel Neely
Hi Matthew,
I am sure you will get some very good discussion going as you start the class. I know my students like to come in and as they are settling into the flow of the class talk about current events in relation to our class. This creates a good climate for upcoming content section of the course and they are ready to get into it after our discussion.
Gary
I am starting some new night classes as well and plan on getting a brief discussion going before we start the subject matter. I hope this gets the thought process and participation going early.
Gosh my morning class of students, they are ready to go!
They have had their morning coffee and sometimes over anxious about thier first test.
I allways write some kinda quote on the board to motivate them in the morning, to make them think.
:0)
Hi Garrett,
I admire you starting a class so early in the morning. You are right about the strong coffee being essential. Having the students move around and interact with each other is a good way to get the blood flowing and the brain working. I thought I had it bad teaching from 4 until 10 pm. Now I think I have the easy shift.
Gary
I will be teaching a early morning class and had not thought about some of these ideas. I like the idea of getting the class up and stretching. I think this would work great getting us motivated for the days events.
As a new instructor myself, starting my shift at 6:15am, I find that keeping my self awake and motivated can be difficult as well. Your motivation will be an inspiration to your students. Moving around always helps, some strong coffee, (the institution has coffee vending machines for the students) or a short interactive discussion, other than lecture, i.e. what happened over the weekend, has anyone been able to implement any of their new skills they have recently acquired?
If all else fails the mention of going directly to lab will turn some heads!
I teach late at night and my classes end at almost midnight....I involve them in the course so that they feel a part of the whole class. I also have them stand up and chat for a few moments, and stretch.
Hi Sara,
I thought it was bad teaching an evening class from 4 until 10. Start the class with an activity that involves them having to move in some manner. You could have them move into work groups for a few minutes (10-15 minutes) and work on a current problem or case study. Then move them back into the classroom setting for a discussion or lecture, then back to group work. If you have a lab in connection with the course moving them into the lab will get the awake because they like doing things in the lab.
If it is possible to have coffee/tea in the room that is a plus as well. The smell of brewing coffee helps with getting the mind awake. When I teach morning classes I have coffee available and my students really like that. Depends on your school policy though.
Gary
