Making Lectures Interesting for everyone
I find that some students are completely involved in my lectures - like microbiology - and some are bored out of their minds. I love microbiology and totally get into the lecture. Is it just that those students are not interested in microbiology or could I be delivering my lecture wrong?
After dealing with a similar problem -students bored during lecture- I came to realize i was trying to deliver too much information. There is only a certain amount of time in any class, and presenting what the class needs requires a ruthless editing of material we might find fascinating, but which is off the point for the students. For several semesters, I pruned and thinned. Finally it seems about the right balance of intensity, time, and attention spans. And in the end the admission had to be made- there are those (amazingly!) who do not possess a rabid enthusiasm for my building codes, perhaps similarly to your microbiology. To get the students further ahead I had to back off. Maybe it could work for you, too.
I always read the non-verbal cues to identify the bored students and engage them through question and answers ASAP. At least for me, this brings them back into the lecture discussion whether they are interested in the topic or not. This is all predicated on the concept of "no question/answer is stupid". Also, I make it clear that many times you learn as much, if not more, for making a mistake than actually having the correct answer.
I don't seem to have that problem too often. I am told I find many different ways of looking at things.
Hi Meron,
Good strategy. This keeps them engaged even if they display an attitude of disinterest. Real life stories and examples really motivate them because they start to see how they can fit into their career area.
Gary
Sometimes, I feel that there is one student in my class that feels like she is not going to even appear as if she is listening. When I do see that kind of behavior by an adult learner, I start the participation by having random students to read the powerpoint presentation and try to bring them back. It also seems like real life senarios or asking them if they had similar experiences gets them interested again.
Hi Marisa,
Well said. We want to reach them all but in real life that isn't going to happen. We need to feel good about those that we do reach and the impact we have on their lives.
Gary
It is hard when your students don't connect with the subject matter the way you do. Remember that it isn't your teaching, we are all individuals with different interests and passions and there will be students that you will be able to reach, and those you won't.
I agree. I teach using real time chats that are recorded. I pick the time, the school writes all assignments and students choose when to listen. They are not required to attend the "live" chats (2 per week) but the material discussed is related to upcoming specific tasks, so they can be helpful. Therefore, based on the scheduled time I may have only a few students attend from a class of 30, or I sometimes have 4 or 5, rarely more than 10. I think this is more related to the time and day of the chats.
I use PPT's as general outlines, add my material to them, as I speak, sometimes sharing the computer screen with them as I visit different websites. They seem to like the break from PPT slides, too.
Hi Lataunia,
This is a great strategy. Thanks for sharing it with us. I know it will be of value to other online instructors.
Gary
Making lectures interesting for everyone is a huge challenge.
I teach online so I have many techniques that I use. The one I really enjoy is sharing my computer screen with the class. By doing this, I am able to go to different websites and show information such as charts and diagrams. They appreciate the break and a change of scenary.
Thanks!
Hi David,
Right you are. No matter how hard we try we can't reach them all. When this happens in one of my classes I am always sad and wonder if I could have done something to have reached that student. But I also think about the fact that there must be a sense ownership in each student. He or she must decide for themselves if they are going to create a future for themselves that involves being successful in their courses. If they decide that they won't be successful then that decision results in the position in life that they occupy.
Gary
I agree with alot of you. You can't make everthing interesting for everyone. Even though you may find the subject fasinating. Alot of the time it could be the attitude of the student on that particular day. You just have to do the best you can with what you got to work with. The bottom line is this if your excited about the subject your teaching your lectures are more exciting.
There is no way for you to make a subject interesting to everyone. Some get it, some don't. That is going to be the case no matter what subject you're teaching. You can dress the facts up to make it not sound like you're teaching them, but that doesn't always work either. Make the class fun for you, and by doing this your excitement will reach out to more than just the ones that are interested in the subject. Sometimes I've had students like attending my course because they thought I was cool. I've had a few students completely fail my course although attended every class. There is just no telling some times.
Hi Michelle,
It could be a little of both, meaning they aren't that deep into microbiology and you could be delivering the topic in a learning style that isn't their preference. You aren't doing anything wrong just keep doing what you are doing but keep a sharp eye out on how you can introduce other activities to keep the students engaged in the learning process.
Gary
I use the same method as Richard. Most of my students are adult with a great deal of life lessons. I will try to compare a similiar situation or working motion of a car, home appliance or something that a student can relate to.
When I taught math classes I had much simular issues.
I only way I ever found to engage students for whom the material was boring was to find ways to engage them in the subject by applying it in everyday life.
I don't know enough to about microbiology to suggest solutions but in math classes I didn't things like:
1)Taught how systems of equations were used by oil companies of maximize the profits on a barrel of oil.
2) Gave them assignments to go outside a use trianglation to measure the height of various trees.
3) Told them they need to estimate the amount of paint the would need to paint several walls.
Giving students real live applications of technical material seem to engage students who are not excited about the material itself.
You cant reach everyone all of the time. Trying to have a diverse approach to your lectures can help.
