When I move around my class seems moe awake and attentive. When I stand behind the lecturn time seems to slow for everyone. I love when someone asks me a question and I can pull myself from the regular text and walk about to explain the answer. I can really see them obsorbing when I do.
I believe movement gives you a fresh perspective on the classroom. However, it also helps engage students who sit in the back so they can send text messages or surf the internet during class!
With the students focused on you, if you can move around, they will follow you with their eyes and body. This can provide movement for them so that they do not become restless, ubcomfortable and distracted.
Yevette,
yes that movement can be a great help to our students & to us.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Moving around keeps students interested, awake and focused
I've got a vent that creates a dead spot in the room where students can't hear. I haven't found a solution for that yet.
Garry,
I think you hit on an important idea here. We want to keep the lectures "moving" & I have found that sometimes my physical movement helps with actually moving the lectures too.
Dr. Ryan Meers
moving around the classroom changes the focus point, changes delivery patterns and moves the delivery of the topic for the student.
Moving around in the classroom keeps the students in engaged in the lecture.
Moving helps me monitor my classroom....students are afraid to fall asleep, I also can see if people are taking notes or if they are drawing pictures of me with funny hair.
Paula ,
you make an excellent point here that I had not fully considered before. By prohibiting cell phones, in many cases we are helping to prepare our students for the real world work environment.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Paula ,
I struggle with the same issue, great job on self-awareness.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Paula ,
great observation & advice. To do this I like to read faces, eyes & ask questions.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Acting in this manner also prepares the student for the workplace, where, in the field in which I prepare the student for, cell phones are not allowed.
I also have come to a realization regarding perspective in that I have a "roller coaster" type of presentation when writing on the white board.
Acting in this manner also facilitates inclusion of all participants, not just those requiring additional focus. An awareness of our own facial expressions and postures can be enhanced as well.
To ensure the attention of each participant, assess the grasping of the material presented as well as gain an understanding of the dynamics of the group.
Qiana,
our moving around & presence definitely helps with accountability.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Geneveva,
I agree with you that we want to be helpful to our students, however it is our classroom & we need to make sure that the focus in on learning.
Dr. Ryan Meers
One of my computer labs is also used for lecture, but the computer monitors are very large and close together, resulting in a "wall" where the students can see me, but I can't see them. I'm very comfortable moving around when I'm discussing, but this was a challenge...once I moved where one row of students and I could connect, I would be hidden from the next row and vice versa. It was a constant game of hide and seek and very hard to make lasting connections.
My projector screen is on the wall behind me, so I set up a long table at the back of the room. I called it the "round table" and the contradiction always gets a chuckle. When it's time to discuss, I display whatever subject is needed on the screen and then call a "meeting at the round table" where I have a corresponding handout. Now we can all sit facing each other (exactly as they will in future business meetings at their jobs) and discuss together. It's conducive to student investment, we can interact at a personal level, and I am joining the group as more of a participant and not an intimidating figure. We have the best conversations (no longer one person talking, true discussion & debate occurs) this way!
