Moving to different areas of the classroom helps keeps students focused. 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. You also are able to connect with different students and find out through facial expressions that may not have a clear understanding
Jae,
I think you make several great points in here. One that 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
Dr. Ryan Meers
Moving to different areas of the classroom helps keeps students focused. Moving around the room can also give the instructor the perspective of the student in terms of if the whiteboard or PowerPoint is easy to read, if the classroom environment is appealing, or if the sound during a movie is at the appropriate level. It can deter students from side chatter with their peers or texting during class.
Karl,
Thank you for the reminders, especially in regard to having our backs to the students. I started off life in drama & this is a cardinal rule in theater, never turn your back to the audience. I think the same applies to our students for the reasons you stated.
Ryan
Moving around during lectures does help keep students alert on what your doing and saying. But you got to be careful not to talk to much with your back turned (for those with hearing impairments.)and not move around to fast and to much, it could become annoying.
Because the students will be more angage with the topics delivered in classes.
Movement in the classroom keeps the class from going stagnant, it keeps the students watching you to see what you will do next. I feel like the more movement you have in class, the more excitement you can add to the experience.
Yes and from the drama world, our attention follows movement. So if the instructor is remaining still & something else starts moving, guess where the students' attention will go?
Ryan
I think this is a great analogy to remind all of us about the importance of moving frequently in the classroom. Additionally movement can also help with retention of material by the students.
Ryan
It is good for an instructor to move around the classroom because they want to keep the students engaged. It's not easy to keep someone's attention if you stay in the same spot the entire time. Eventually, the student will get tired of looking in the same direction or from the same vantage point and their eyes will start wandering off. Moving around keeps them looking at you.
Much like driving a car if a persons eyes are focused on one point to long they can loose concentration. The movement helps them stay focused.
I find that moving around helps to change the pitch and volume of your voice for the students that are listening.
Mark,
I think you hit on a secondary benefit to movement in the classroom. It's much easier to engage our students & get participation when we are in closer proximity & keeping it fresh with movement.
Ryan
I move arround the classroom during lecture, because it helps me with managing anxiety. I am high energy and sometimes it 's like my stage. When I am up in front of a class, it's like the curtain goes up, and "I'm ON". I get classroom participation, but not when I stay stagnant up at the potium
I agree as I have had instructors drive me nuts with both extremes on this
Great observation. It especially helps to see the potential lack of understanding in those students who may not be as eager to let on that they don't understand.
Ryan
You're right on both levels. Movement is good, but it must not be annoying or distracting.
Ryan
The catch-22 is avoiding students feeling left out as you are elsewhere for 2 long - - ah, the sound byte attention span they now have...
It is important because you keep a grasp on their attention. You also are able to connect with different students and find out through facial expressions who may not have a clear understanding.
I find that movement helps the students to focus on me and hence what I am saying. Need right balance though as excessive movement always seems to irk students
