Sleeping
Any ideas on keeping students awake.
I agree that something that creates a physical contact (squirt gun, nerf balls, etc.) may create a hostile environment. I find a sudden and dramatic change in pace (such as a very funny joke, or start talking about something totally unrelated to the subject matter)works well.
i have found in my years as a teacher that learning needs to be fun. So every friday is fun friday, we have medical jeopardy, medical hangman and various other games, they go along with the work we have done in class all week. the students love it and look forward to friday.
I tend to walk around the classroom during lectures or dicussions. The fact that the students don't know where I will wonder to next and whom I will engage in discussion once I reach that part of the room can help keep them focused.
I use a lot of "callbacks" and ask alot of questions, usually after every topic.
This seems to keep students interested and breaks up the lecture.
Hello everyone- these suggestions have been wonderful. As a former nursing student, and now instructor I can recall days and just being tired and drained. And just easing my head down onto the desk. My wonderful teacher would gently reply " I think you need to step out the room and go wash your face". We all thought it was funny, but its amazing what that short walk to the restroom and cold water on your face does wonders. Just my 2 cents
Sleeping is a problem in early mourning class.i find that walking around the class room during lecture helps to keep sleeping students awake
The only problem I have with this is anything like squirt gun or ay kind of physical contact may trigger an altercation or legal problems. I avoid this at all costs. You never know when one is on the edge.
warning,
using practical jokes or items like sqiurt guns may cause issues you may not want have to handle.
if a student has a medical condition, or becomes offended this may lead to legal troubles.
coaching, finding out the issue, and following policy would always be the best way to handle sleepers
We use the "3-Method"
1)verbal warning
2)written infraction
3rd time)sent home for the day
or if you have a heart... be creative! practical jokes (have everyone sneak out of class, shut off lights, and have another instructor come in saying class ended 3hours ago)
I also heard squirt guns, remote fart machines, and nerf balls can come in handy also.
Sleeping in class is a constant problem in our school. I find walking through the room while I lecture is a way to see who is realy asleep and who is listening. As you pass a student whith their head down or eyes closed the change of your voice is enough to get a response. This shows me that they are listening and not really asleep.
Its a hard thing to decide which way to go. Should I go sit down until they wake up which takes away from the others? I have had another instructor say a number, calling it the majic number. When he wakes the student he asks for the majic number. If they dont know it he can warn them the next time it will be a downgrade.
Hi Thomas,
There are several approaches to this very common situation. First, talk with the student individually about not sleeping in class. Sometimes this will be all that is needed but if not at least you have talked with and warned the student that sleeping in not appropriate in class.
If that doesn't work try integrating different activities into your class that has the students moving around, getting into small groups or working on lab projects. Since many students work full time and are very tired when they come to class it is easy to fall a asleep when they sit down. Movement will help to keep the blood flowing and the attention focused.
Gary
I too find find sometimes one or two students sleeping in the class usualy during lecture sessions.I still dont know how to handle these situationsin the proper way.
I give in class lab, but I still have to deal with a student or two that fall asleep in class lab.
Ive found that by keeping a lecture dynamic and interactive it keeps student's attention for a longer time.
actually, I don't really even like the word lecture...discussion is a better way I believe. Teach by asking questions and making them think. An active mind can't fall asleep.
Keeping the lecture to a limited time then changing instructional method can benefit both professor and student.
Hay Brian,
One thing I like to do during the first day is to remind them look after each other too. "If you happen to have a fellow student at your table that is dozing. Maybe the students had a rough day/night? We all have those from time to time. Give them a polite tap or nudge, "doin OK?" hopefully they'll return the favor one day for you."
Hi David,
Good point about learning breaks. The typical attention span is about 15 minutes. So if you are talking/lecturing on something make sure you change the pace, offer an activity or introduce some media at different times so the students can redirect their attention spans. Then give them the breaks you mentioned and you will be able to keep them engaged.
I teach night classes and face the same student issues as you do and I work very hard to keep them excited, awake and learning.
Gary
I found giving them a break every 45 min. or so helps. I have a weeks worth of lecturing and my students have just gotten off a fulls days work, some of them have been up for 5:am and most are tired. Giving them a break but if that does not work then buy them a cup of coffee or again you could get mean and have them stand up and listen for awhile.
