Keeping Students Engaged
Whats the best way to keep students engaged in their learning?
My lectures are pretty hands on. I will demonstrate how to solve a math problem, and then assign the students similar problems to work on. It gives the students a chance to practice the material in class, when they can ask questions and get help. And it breaks up the lecture and keeps the students from falling asleep.
Hi Roseanna,
What have you found to be some of the most effective ways to get the students working in groups and discussing course content?
Thanks in advance for your input.
Gary
yes i agree small groups works very well and it gets the studentsd really discussing with one another plus having them work together
Breaks - that is as simple an answer as you'll hear or need to hear, for that matter. I teach a 4 1/2 hour upper-level accting course. We have two ten-minute breaks built in (albeit at differing times from week-to-week).
Hi Denise,
Thank you for sharing these great examples of how an instructor can offer a variety of instructional deliveries to keep the students engaged. It also helps to make the instructional process go smoother.
Gary
I sometimes break up the class into small groups & have them work on becoming "Masters of the Material" by coming up with their own way to present it to the class. It breaks up the lecture a bit & is very entertaining. I've had students create songs, boardgames, poems and other ideas of how to retain the information. It's also a great team building exercise, getting the class to bond.
keep them focused lecture for no more than 15 min intervals have extra activities allow workbook time
Hi Krista,
Sounds like you have developed an instructional style that keeps students engaged and focused. Keep up the good work.
Gary
I try to avoid throwing too many questions out there for any student to answer ( get to many answers at once). I try to randomly call on students to make sure they are paying attention. I walk up and down the rows, stand in the back of the room, stand behind a student I noticed not focusing...Students tend to follow me as I walk and wait to see who I'm going to call on next.
I also like to crack jokes on topics that I can think of someone doing something silly that pertains to it (the epigastric region I make like a vomiting noise while I say it). I know it sounds funny but when it is 8pm at night the students laugh and remember the location and the term). Because I am so random in my actions while I teach students stay awake in my class and I can lecture a little longer. I teach A&P and the amount of material needed to be covered in 12 weeks is too much. So lecture is the main part of my class ( no lab is included in the program).
I like to give students time to look up different topics in groups and then present it. I make sure everyone in the group understands they all receive the same grade and that not participating is not an option. I put a time limit it on it. Students get up out of their seats, write on the board, and speak in front of the class. Then I sum up everything after each group(focuses the students on important parts and weeds out the not so important parts)
You can't be afraid to be out there,aspecially at night. Sometimes just being outgoing and humors with material will keep the students attention for the most part.
However, it will not work all the time (diversty is a must). If you are not afraid to put yourself out there in front of your class then the students are not afraid to be there and ask questions. The classroom becomes a place of escape for students, comfort(but learning), encouragement, and above all acceptance for everyone(because you are different). In my case my students say "your crazy, what's next".
This does not work for everyone so you have to find you nitch.
Hi Lynn,
I think this is a good idea to help them get re-engaged in the learning process. I teach courses that run three hours in the evening so I have the same student situation. I also plan a wide variety of activities throughout the evening to keep the students moving, talking, thinking and problem solving. All of these methods help to keep the students focused on what they are there for. I don't let them slip into a daze and just complete the time without learning the content.
Gary
Since my class is 4 hours long and after they have spent a full day at work, I need to give breaks, it is difficult to bring them back on task after a break. The strategy that has worked for me is to give the students a graded activity after break to bring their attention back to the class. Do you have any other suggestions?
Hi Kim,
Great way to "read" your students and then plan your instructional delivery accordingly.
Gary
So glad to hear that we should not lecture for more than 15-20 minutes! That is what I have been doing because after that amount of time I feel I am "done" and the students are "done" too! So I really try to mix up the delivery throughout the class: lecture, dicussion, activities, questions...I pay attention to the cues the students give out!
Hi Rich,
Be prepared so the students can see the flow of your lesson for that class session. Offer variety of instruction, pace the course so you don't lecture more than 15-20 minutes before you have a discussion or activity.
Be exciting in your presentation and show the students the application methods of their new knowledge as well as relevancy.
Gary
