Strategies for Keeping Students Engaged in Learning
What are some strategies for keeping students engaged throughout the class?
A strategy I use for nursing students is to finish discussing a particular pathology and then have students in small groups (2-3) create nursing care plans before discussing nursing process and care for the particular pathology. Right or wrong is not the focus. It's can you apply previous nursing knowledge such as pain management before we look at specific nursing care for that pathology because there are so many basics in nursing that are preformed regardless of the patient's pathology. This reinforces previous knowledge and gets them thinking about how to adapt nursing care for individual attention.
keeping the class fun and interesting is the hardest option for instructor and student. I have found that an energetic personality helps as you bounce around the classroom during lectures and interject stories and questions seems to help keep them focused.
James,
I use learning group activities a lot in my class as well. They get all of the students involved and help with students learning to work with and respect each other.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
We have group activities in class. Small couple minute discussions betweeen students to get them to talk and discuss the subject or a question.
Cathy,
Students like change of pace and variety in their learning delivery. You are doing both with your approach and I know this increases their engagement in the class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Using varied teaching techniques keeps my students engaged. They never know what to expect...a lecture, a game, group work, etc. Keeping things varied helps them stay engaged.
Andrea,
I teach from 4 until 10 pm so I can relate to long instructional sessions. You are right on target with your strategy to break the instructional flow up and offer different ways to move the students from being passive to active learners. You are right that interactive experiences generate greater students interest.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I try to utilize a variety of instructional methods in the classroom to keep students engaged. Due to long lecture periods, I do change up activities every 20 min or so; it helps keep students active in the learning process and helps keep the course moving. I feel the interactive experience is a fun one!
Santos,
Great list of ways to engage students and keep their focus for the duration of each class session.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Try to keep a good rapport with the students. Keep lecture short. Bring interesting materials. Try to minimize steps during demo.
Laquenta,
You are doing a great job with these different delivery uses. Keep up the good work. Some ideas you might entertain in terms of learning enhancements might be the use of small group problem solving, case studies and role playing if they would work with the course you are teaching.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
My strategies have been to keep them actively involved by reading aloud, coming up to the board and demonstrating, use outside influences they can relate to during class. Im sure there alot more things i can do to keep them engaged and more suggestions would definitely be welcomed.
Using state changes and voice inflections to keep the students visual and auditory senses alert.
Theresa,
The more connections that can be made between the life experiences of students and the course content the better. This helps them to see the relevance of what is being taught and increases their ROI as it applies to being in college.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I like to keep students engaged by asking them to share their real-life professional experience about the topic of class discussion. They enjoy sharing their background on the topic.
CHARLES,
Good point and one we need to remember each time we enter the classroom or lab.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I live by that if you cant laugh your not making it fun
Vickie,
I use a number of different games for review with my students and they always have a good time plus are amazed at how much they have learned. Helps them also with building their confidence as they get ready for an upcoming test.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
