Alicia,
This is a great way to maintain their attention & to see who needs help. It especially helps with attention when they don't know where we are heading next.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Tehea,
Yes, an old lesson from acting is that the audience always follows the movement. So if we as the instructor can move & effectively communicate we will hold their attention much better.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I believe it is important to move around the classroom because the students are more likely to concentrate on you rather then drift away or focus on something else. Its also important in a lab classes because then you can see if they need help with a what you are covering.
I believe this helps the students engaged because if an instructor is moving and still effectively communicating the students will stay focused and attentive.
Miriam,
A mobile instructor is an effective instructor, in my opinion. As you stated we can engage with our students more effectively in this way.
Dr. Ryan Meers
It is important for an instructor to move around a classroom or lab so that they can become comfortable in their environment, engage with more students, and reduce distractions among students who may feel they are not being watched.
Dana,
I believe the more we can put ourselves in the students' shoes, the better we will try at making a very positive learning environment.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Thomas,
I like your point about keeping eye contact with students so they are ready to answer if you call upon them. While I want my students to pay attention, I'm not a big fan of surprising them & embarrassing them.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I think it hasn't been brought as much, that you make, is the advantage of seeing the class from the students' perspective. As you said, this helps us know what challenges with arrangement, seating, etc there may be. This also might give us a better feel for those students who have learning challenges & where it may be best to seat them in the room.
Ryan
Its helps focus the students attention on the Lecture. I always making sure that I make eye contact with the students it keeps them alert so if I call upon them for their input on the topic.
There are a few reasons I like to move around the classroom. I hated staring at one spot in the class when I was a student, so I try to move around to help lessen the boredom. Also I can get a better visual of what the student is doing as I walk around. Are they taking notes, or writing notes to each other.... do they seem engaged or do they seem lost. It's hard for me to monitor this from one viewpoint. However, I had never thought about the fidgeting. That is something I need to focus on reducing!
Stephen,
Yes, technology, while a great help, is an ever present distraction that must be addressed. I agree that my movement & location in the classroom can help with this.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Steve,
Yes & for those students who are using electronic devices this can keep them "honest" & make sure that they are paying attention to the lecture & not being distracted.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Therese,
Yes, while we don't want to "threaten" our students or make them feel uncomfortable we also want them to know that everyone in the room will be engaged.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Jae,
I think a key point that you've made is that it deters students from being distracted by their gear and their classmates. Moving around will discourage students from focusing on something other than you and if you use it, the board or screen. Too many students have phones, laptops, and classmates to distract them.
Cheers,
Steve Baker
Moving around the room helps keep the students focused. When I see them moving their heads to look at me, I know I have their attention. Moving around also helps me to stand by someone who doesn't appear engaged while I talk for a few seconds. This often stops the student from doing what he/she was doing.
I have found that students gravitate to seats in the back of the room and that the seating seems to become self assigned. By moving around the room, students can't hide and all students become engaged. It also makes it easier to identify the really "shy" student and attempt to engage them too.
Coleen,
Great points & I think it's important to note that we're not meaning you have to do some big song & dance routine. Simply changing your position, or sitting on a table or desk closer to students often helps.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Hello Dr. Meers!
I feel that is very important to move around the classroom because this way you can see everything and everyone. If one just stands behind the podium, and never moves, it creates a sense of boredom. There is no life in you as the instructor, and this is reflected back in the students. They become bored without some sort of movement. I like movement and activity to keep the class alive and motivated. I also put myself in their shoes. If I were the student would I be happy and motivated to be in a classroom where the instructor just sits or stands behind something? Heck no! I enjoy movement and stories and or examples that will grab my attention and hold it. I try to keep this in mind as I plan my lectures. ;)
to float and give me the opoortunity to observe the class better
