when you are getting tired
have your students do a fun game like ask them to show you how by using another student to explain what they got out of the lectuer
Thankfully my lesson plan has some group activities built into it, but by emphasizing the importance of team work in securing a group consensus for the task at hand seems to help motivate because they may not have a hung jury. If the class size is large, sometimes I will have one of the groups act as though they were an unethical business and see how that would look as compared to the rest of the class that normally acts ethically.
I'm also using lectures, alternated by hands-on and then changing the format, especially if the lecture is scheduled for after lunch. It is effective in keeping students focussed, alert and participating.
Getting the students involved helps keep them awake, motivated and ready to learn.
Hi Chavelle,
Variety in learning really helps to keep students engaged. You have shared with us examples of how this is working for you. Keep up the good work and I know your students are going to be more engaged as a result.
Gary
My class is the same way, When I mix it up with a little bit of letture, then lab/hands on, then lecture, I notice my students don't get bored. I really like to encorporate role playing in my lessons, that way each student has a little time to be in the spot light and show off what they have learned!
Great ideas--I agree that to mix up the presentation will prevent a student from getting "bored" with the instruction.
Hi Ebonie,
Good strategies for keeping the students engaged and focused on the course. This helps them to see value to the content while making application of it as well.
Gary
I agree that by taking a small amount of time to do diffrent things the time does fly and it keeps the attention of my students, it also gives me an opportunity to use diffrent learning styles that will appeal to all of my students learning styles.
I completely agree with all of you. With the amount of distractions that we have available to us we all have very short attention spans. We need to start thinking of new ways to keep the students involved and paying attention for as much time as we can and I think "games" and activites are the best way to do that.
I have had a lot of success with incorporating activities into my classroom. The students feel empowered because they direct the conversation for each lesson.
My class time goes very quickly because we do a small bit of lecture, then hands-on, lecture, then hands-on, and they stay alert and focused the entire time.
Hi Latoya,
I agree with the discussions and games. They help to get the students involved while allowing everyone to participant at their own comfort level.
Gary
I agree with the idea of having the students to do a fun game and I also like to have group disucssions. I feel as though it takes alot of pressure off the instructor and brings in more participation from the class and even offers the students a chance to answer each others questions and the instructor can attentively listen and validate student responses.
