Moving around the classroom
I like to move around the classroom to keep the students involved in the instruction. Then I will stop in front of a students desk and ask a question. I usually make the questions relevant to the instruction to reenforce that they are part of the class and evolved in the learning process.
Theresa,
yes, I firmly believe in moving around the room, if the room allows for this. It is a great way to keep the whole room engaged.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
As an instructor I move around the class to observe their behavior and see if they are paying attention to the lecture. Also, it is a good way to observe those student's that might have a difficult time understanding the materials and the lecture.
jacqueline,
this is a great point & thank you for bringing it up. Movement is often dictated by the layout & we need to remember that I may not be able to move around the entire room, but I can still incorporate movement. Thanks!
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
That sounds like a great idea. I find that my 8am students come in late a lot and I think it's because there's not enough dynamics. I seriously need to work on moving around the classroom more. I like the idea of putting a goal of moving across the room twice in each class...Baby Steps.
Moving around the classroom depends on the physical layout of the room. My classes are set up of rows of desks to accommodate 40 students. The space between the rows are very narrow, so I use the front of the class to move about.
Joe,
you make an excellent point here & not just about keeping students awake. We need to be considering time of day & other factors that impact our students & their attention factors.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Excellent points! I have to agree moving around is a great way keep our students in tune and alert. I like to move around during my lectures for not only that reason but also for those students who tend to tune into their cell phones or have side bar conversations. Those are easily eliminated upon the movement in a classroom. To add on to what you said DR. Meers I can tell you from my own experience as a instructor that sometimes students do feel targeted and picked on when we are not being mindful.
For anyone teaching an 7:00AM class it is very important to keep moving around to keep the students alert and engaged. It make my life aa lot easier.
Our students all have laptops in the classroom so moving around will help me see that they are either taking notes or following along online with the course. Funny how quickly some laptops get closed as I approach!
Thomas,
this is a good point & a good strategy. Movies or other videos are not our chance to catch up on work but we must make sure that all students are still engaged; we need to stay engaged too.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Even if I have a lecture that involves turning the lights down and moving through a step by step process in a given software lesson, I will get up and check to see if everyone is following the steps correctly. I will even do this with movies that I show. I have found that this keeps the class engaged.
David ,
we do need to be mindful that our actions are not causing the students to feel put on the spot or picked on; this will not help the students to be engaged.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I like to do the same thing but feel it puts the student on the spot and uncomfortable. I'll usually call on a student across the room or a student that needs reinforcement of the material.
Robert,
this is a great strategy as it also helps the students stay awake if it's a tough time of day or makes sure they are engaged with the material.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
