Engerizing Students
What techniques do you use to get your students to come back to class week after week?
w,
Students really like hearing stories from the field as you know. These stories help to make the content come alive and increases the value of the information that is being shared.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
i use lots of visual aids and tell stories the apply to the subject matter. this helps to keep the lecture from getting stale. i will also ask students to come forward and help me with my demos
ANNE,
I think this is important part of the instructional process. I start each of my classes with a short session called, "Setting the Stage". It is at this time I share what we are going to do, ask for any questions in relation to assignments, listen to any issues and comment on any community, school or career events. Since I have a specific amount of time set for this it never runs long and the students quickly learn to be concise in their comments and questions because at the end of the 10 minutes we move on. (My classes go for three hours so this is why I take 10 minutes at the beginning.)
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I like your approach to attendance being part of their grade. Getting students settled down and then engaged before you start lectures is essential.In our nursing program students often are overwhelmed or worried and focused on another course or assignment. Letting students vent, helping them prioritize assignments or clarifying assignments helps get all of that out of their minds so I can get the material in there.
James,
This is so true and this is why instructors need to make sure they include a variety of activities to illustrate the information they are sharing with their students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
There is so much more to a good class than just the basic factual material in the notes and textbooks. The real life applications and experiences of both the instructors and students make it meaningful and can only be shared by showing up.
Jessica,
This is why they need to see the value of being in attendance. Discussions and interactions in the class cannot be made up.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
if a student misses a day of class they are not only missing text material, but also personal stories that would not be in a makeup folder.
Attendance is part of the course curriculum, thus students understand the importance. Student are over communicated the benefits of the classroom experience. As future professional employees they must comprehend the level of expectations required.
James,
One, I make attendance a part of their grade so if they miss too much they will not pass the course. I have a number of activities that get them engaged quickly each time the class meets and I always dismiss the class with a challenge or mystery related to our field. I tell them that together we will solve the mystery or challenge in the next class and this gets them to start thinking about the topic we are going to cover in the next class. I make learning fun in class plus use guest speakers to show students where they can end up if they graduate from the program. The key is to be student centered in your planning and get them engaged early in the course and then build on their engagement from there.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
