There are a variety of methods to keep the students engaged. If I am lecturing I may pause and ask a particular student what they think about what I just said. I will make eye contact and when I see someone with a glazed over look in their eyes, I may ask specifically what question they might have. Another way is to pause periodically and allow the students to solve problems that we are working on using the methods that I have been demonstrating.
I like using case studies, demonstrations, videos, and games. I think these methods help with active learning.
I have success in keeping students engaged in learning by utilizing extra handouts, current educational tools and guest speaker.
Hi Leslie,
Good way to flow a class. You are offering variety for the different learning preferences while also giving the students different ways of sharing what they have learned. You are making the class interesting as well as informative.
Gary
I usually introduce new material by starting with a short 20 - 30 minute PowerPoint lecture with lots of pictures and few words. Students will then go through a study guide, which might be followed by playing a game like Jeopardy or an online anatomy game. Class ends by going through a set of review questions covering what was presented in class that day. Varying activities seems to help keep the students focused and alert.
I include videos, lecture, demonstration & open discussions in all of my classes. I try to "keep it real" with my students & at a level that is easy for all to understand. Sometimes, as an instructor, it can be easy to assume that everyone is on the same level as you, so taking a step back & using professional terminology is always followed with a lamen explanation.
Relating the instructional delivery to the job or the workplace.
Personal examples; "What If's"; Videos; Websites; Comparing the current difficult/technical subject to something simple and common; 'Quick Checks' after each mini-lecture; Games;
Hi Sandra,
I am a big user of field trips and guest speakers. Thank you for comments about how they assist you in your instructional delivery. The student presentations are a way to build self confidence and personal growth. You have some very good methods going for you.
Gary
A couple of things that can be done to keep students interested and engaged in learning is assigning a movie that relates to the topic and develop a quiz to ensure that the movie was indeed watched. Another idea would be a field trip. Field trips can often cause a class to become a "closer family." I also like for students to compose a presentation and discuss it in front of the class. This help build confidence when speaking in front of a group of people and helps get over stage fright,
Break up the lecture with learning activities, group work and demonstrations if appropriate. Once the topic has been explored move on to the next topic.
Hi Michelle,
There needs to be some fire and excitement about the field as you say. If it is not there then both the students and the instructor are going to just muddle through the class.
Gary
Hi Sandra,
This is a great strategy to follow. There is a saying that "to teach is to learn twice, once as a student and again as a teacher." This is what your students are doing as they prepare and present in class. Greatly increases retention.
Gary
Put meaning into what you teach. If it means something to the student then they will be more activly involved. Case studied, open labs, role playing are some examples of active learning activities that keep students engaged and encouraged.
I turn the tables on them and have them be "teachers" for a given day on the subject manner. They each have a portion of the subject they must teach. They have to utilize either power points, posters, lecture handouts, etc. They often tell me it is harder than they thought.
I concur with that. Using visuals and making things more fun by doing hands on things the makes the learning experience more memorable.
Hi Michael,
Good point. The students need opportunities to connect the dots between the content they are learning and the real world where they are going to apply it. So the more experiences you can provide them to do this the greater their retention is going to be.
Gary
Changing delivery techniques and stoping to ask the students real world based scenario questions about the course material. In doing so it makes students process the information into applications of use.
I try to include relevant current news into my lecture or references to current media. Most students are familiar with music ot television, I try to use examples and jokes to illustrate points. This method has helped to keep focus and opened up more discussion possibilities.
Tanya,
I teach various mathematical topics to adult learners at a career college. I have learned how to relate many of the concepts to everyday situations. For example, one can relate the size of confidence intervals in statistics to the size of basketball hoops. In teaching computer networks, one can relate response time behavior to traffic flows on an expressway. For Integral calculus, one can relate it to the digitization of analog music for CD's.
I find that using real life, everyday situations to "debunk" apparently difficult concepts keeps students engaged and makes the subject matter much more accessible.
