Inattentive Student
As an instructor I continuously implement group activities as part of the learning process. By observing actions of students including the inattentive student during group involvement I focus on the behaviors.Feedback is most valuable to students especially to the inattentive student.I express that their innovative ideas are encouraged therefore; the student may become sincere about learning, increase their level of involvement, and develop a relationship among peers.
Hi Richard,
I bet the inattentive student quickly became attentive after he was put on blast. Sometimes we have to call them out so that they regain their focus.
Patricia
As an example from my own class today. I had an inattentive student along with one who was attentive go to the board and work togeather to perform estimation problems.
I agree with Nicol. I also group as much as possible, and when I have an inattentive student, I begin to aske them questions. The goal is pull them back into the group and provide them with a level of accountability.
Hello Gabrielle,
Lecture day in and day out can become old real fast. Variety is the key to keeping students attentive.
Patricia
Hello Virginia,
What an inspiring story! We must neve give up on our students.
Patricia
I use group activities in my classes on a regular basis. Legal topics can often be dry and students tend to lose interest if I lecture too long. Hands on assignments seem to work best to keep my students involved and prevent them from losing interest.
Hi James,
You made some great points! Some students do perform better when working in groups-smaller setting.
Patricia
How you respond to their participation is so critical. I spent one to two months to motivate such a student to participate--responded in a positive way (including my body language), took genuine interest in what they had to say and elaborated upon the information in my lecture. From then on the student participated on a regular basis.
Hi Richard,
Occassionally, I will get a student who does not care for group activities, but I explain to the student that at work you may have to do group projects. Based on the explanation, the student becomes more receptive to group assignments.
Patricia
Hello Richard,
What clever ways to get student participation and involvement.
Patricia
I find having the students work in groups and take turns speaking as group leaders assist with a student who is nodding off or inattentive.
Also, I have the students take note cards in many classes; then I grade the note cards at the end of the class. This seems to assist with summarization and participation during the class period.
My students enjoy grouping. I have found it builds rapport, self-esteam and collaborative efforts mirroring the real world.
I totally agree with you.
Hello Nicol,
I think group activities are a wonderful way to not only help the student become more engaged, but to determine from listening and observing what is really going on with the student. It gives them a venue and comfort level where they are more at ease and can make valuable contributions to discussions in a smaller setting. Sometimes students appear inattentive when they are using this method to safeguard their privacy. Groups lessen that stressor and give them better opportunity to focus.
Hi Joshua,
It is important to know your classroom. I've seen at times a bright student can turn a struggling student in their group around for the better, but I certainly see your viewpoint.
Patricia
I feel that part of this involves knowing your classroom and how to group students. Yes, some students might motivate others better than an instructor can, but we also must know the chemistry of our classes.
Grouping a struggling student with the brightest in the class can be detrimental in my opinion. If I remember my Vygotsky rightly, students become demotivated by working outside of their zone of proximal development. It's been my experience that in those cases, high-performing students will take the workload upon themselves, and then leave the struggling student as dead weight.
Is it just me, or is successfully dissecting the class for groups as complex (and rewarding) as operating?
Hello Diane,
Group activity is certainly a smart way to get inattentive students involved. Most of your inattentive students will become attentive once involved in group activity.
Patricia
I love using group activities to get the inattentive student involved. I find that when I put different types of students together, they get the inattentive student involved.
Hi Bonnie,
Students can say talk "trash" to each other and no one gets mad, but an instructor has to be very careful. I've heard other students lining each other out..., and I am like yes.
Patricia
Hello Bonnie,
Sometimes a student can reach another student that was unable to be reached by the instructor. I love group work in math, and the students seem to enjoy it as well.
Patricia
