Walking
I believe that my favorite and most attention getting instructors as a student were those who walked around the room and maintained great eye contact... It helped with my attention span. Also tell a joke or two really helped to keep it interesting.
I agree, I walk around the room. Many times I sit next to the students and work with them on their math problems.
Hi David! Walking around in the learning space, as you note, really creates a connectivity among the instructor and students. Thanks for your comments,
Jay Hollowell
ED106 Facilitator
My class is six weeks long and I get to know my students pretty well. I am always walking around and talking at the same time. I think this helps the students stay awake and focused. I can also see what they’re doing.
I also like to move around the classroom while I lecture. I feel that it keeps the students attention. Using real world examples are also a great method.
I employ this technique in most of my classes. It seems to allow the students to be more relaxed and interactive. It isn't so much me against them when I move amongst them.
I agree and believe that it is the combination of movement and eye contact that keeps the students engaged in the class. Walking around the room without making eye contact is still better than hiding behind a lecturn but isn't nearly as effective as looking the students in the eye as you move.
I always walk around when I am teaching so I can see if my students are paying attention. I also greet my students and ask how they are doing.
When the students come into the room, I always greet them and ask them how they are or more specific questions to each one individually.
During class, I always ask each student if they need assistance or if they would like me to work with them.
I have found that some classrooms are more conducive to walking around than others. Much of it depends on how the room is arranged. Those without center aisles are much more difficult to navigate.
I am more comfortable sitting on top of the table of an empty row in the middle of the students. Occasionally I will walk around, but with our small rooms it is difficult to do that without appearing to pace.
I recently taught two classes, one I walked around the room more frequently, the other I did not walk as much. I noticed that with the one that I walked around in more, had more responsive students overall. Although the class sizes were much different, I could still tell that the students were more en-gauged, so I would recommend this for anyone, even if you can only do it momentarily it is a great way of keeping students interested.
William
Walking around the room I find the students are more at easy. They are also not afraid to stop you and ask a question.
I have not walked around the room during lectures only when helping students. I will try this.
