Engaging yor students in the classroom
What would be most effective in keeping them focused.
Good point, but unfortunately, my students aren't here for English, so doing activities in class works most times.
Hi Jill,
This is a very good strategy in terms of being able to show the students the value of the course contents. They get to not only learn but also apply their newly acquired knowledge in a realistic setting.
Gary
I teach composition, but I do so in a much more mechanical and methodical way than I have observed at other institutions. What i try to do is pull information from students in the lecture/demo, to include them in every step of the process. Then I send them off writing on their own and I circle the wagons to monitor and to explain further on a case-by-case basis. I also encourage them to "cheat" by making friends in the class to pre-write with and talk out their ideas with before they write their individual assignments. And most importantly, every step of every assignment has a "so-what" attached to it. I usually also try to elicit this from the class, but even if I have to impose it, they see the value and applicable attributes of each and every assignment and what they will use it for outside of my classroom. This is what works for me.
Hi Tamika,
Good plan. By breaking up the instruction as you do you are providing the learners with variety and this is very important in keeping them engaged. With activities and interaction with each other your students can concentrate on both the content and skill development with maximum results.
Gary
I teach about 4 hours in length, and spilt the day up of 2 hrs lab and 2 hrs lecture. But with our lab session first I have found the students need that stimulation and movement to continue during the lecture portion. So I try to keep them engaged in short activities periodically throughout that allow them to participate and interact with other students or the material in someway.
I typically have 3-4 areas of subject matter to deliver in class. I try to make sure that I vary the topics between those that will involve lecture and then move to an interactive topic so that the students will always feel engaged and like they are and integral part of the teaching/learning environment.
Hi Pete,
You have a good plan for such a long class. Do take stretch breaks ever so often with your students plus the regular breaks. They have to get up and move about frequently or they will just turn into jelly. Can you move them into and out of groups during the class session so they get a break from the lecture but the flow of the class isn't broken up. I like the idea of building a sequence leading to a big conclusion, the students can see the progress that the lecture is making leading to the installed component.
Gary
I have a 5 hour lecture tomorrow,I was concidering a stretch break every hour,just a few minutes,then the normal breaks and in between, durring the lecture ask the class 2 or 3 review question and have them answer on a sheet of paper and let them know I will collect them at the end of class. I was thinking of including a gradual building of a technical schematic on the white board as we advance in the lecture.In addition have them show me the placement of a device discussed and give operating description of the component installed.
Hi Patricia,
Great job of creating the tie. This is critical for students. They need to see the connection and you are doing just that for them.
Gary
I teach English, so I don't think that this approach would work so well. I do, however, have students call things out/brainstorm and I write their ideas on the board. After they've put out all of their own ideas, I point out the best ones and move into lecture from there.
I try to keep things creative and relevant to what they're in school for. I teach art students at one college and health/etc. students at another college, and I've found that as long as I can tie in my general education material to their professional goals, then they're always interested.
I have students go over problems and come up to the board and show how they solved a problem.
This graphically helps other students.
this is a good tip. i am going to be teaching my first class and i think this is a great idea
Hi Denise,
This schedule is a good thing. We are creatures of habit and by having the breaks at the same general time each class meeting the students soon learn how to follow the flow of the class and stay engaged.
Gary
When instructing a class that is 5 hours in length, I work at keeping our breaks at the same time every class meeting. I remind them during the class that we only have so many more minutes before our next break. I find that keeping a consistent schedule helps students to focus.
Hi Victor,
Engaging activities that let them apply their newly acquired knowledge. This helps them understand relevancy in relation to what they are studying.
Gary
