Claudia,
Good advice for instructors. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Keri,
Deliver a mini-lecture of 15-20 minutes using graphics to support your content. Move around the classroom, ask questions, etc. Then do an activity, have a Q&A session, small group for a few minutes and then you can return to the lecture. The key is to offer variety and change of pace to keep the students engaged. You are on the right track with your thinking so don't be afraid to be creative in your instructional planning.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
When I am in the classroom I try to use different teaching techniques. For example, group work in the class room seems to work for my students. Or when they take a practice test (not graded) I let them look up things or google topics, but when they give me the answer they have to explain why they choose this particular answer and why not the others. As a result they work harder because they know they have to explain. And last, since I always switch the teaching style the students never know what to expect, therefore I realize they get less bored in the class. But, I don't teach classroom on a regular base I am a clinical instructor. That makes it probably easier to alternate the teaching style. You could try to alternate one or two days a week, because in order to do this it is going to be more work for you.
