Get Your Students Hired
I agree. I think one on one meetings with a student who is struggling for any reason is one the best ways to reach them and establish rapport. As we know, many students have outside stress that can impact their experience and behavior in the classroom. Reaching out to them may have a significantly positive impact on their education and future.
You can make the student(s) present a section of the lecture to the class and include Power Points, you can also provide a guest speaker and have a question and answer period after, You can also provide role plays, have the class break into groups and have each group design a role play then switch the groups role play for them to present
Start class with a scenario, example or quote to get their attention, then move into how it applies to the lesson for that day.
If I notice an inattentive student while I am lecturing, I will keeping lecturing and stand next to the student. This usually gets them to pay attention.
Capturing student attention: As a Marine Corps Combat instructor, I found that giving a quote or showing a video was a great way to capture the student’s attention. The only thing is to make sure if you are using either on of these ideas is to make sure that what every you are showing or reading can be related to the course you are teaching.
v/r
Ron
You can talk to the student to see why they are acting the way they are. Most of the time its personal problems. Get them engaged in the lecture, stand near them and they will stop the activity that is disruptive.
I encourage them to to come to me after class and discuss things. Sometimes fear of "looking stupid" is the issue.
Hi William,
Students need to and want to be engaged! Engagement adds more interest for the student.
Patricia Scales
I think if you engage the student more making that individual focus on the learning process.
I agree with talking with them. They may have some underlying issues that you might be able to help them with. This will let them know you care about them as well
Hi Donna,
Pop quizzes certainly keep students very attentive in class and force them to look over their notes.
Patricia Scales
One of the ways of capturing student attention is to break up lecture and engage the class is dicusssions of what we just covered. I also give pop quizes the next morning on the lecture from the previous day .
One of the ways to capture a students' attention is to do a class discussion and asking the inattentive student a direct question so they can get involve into it. I have used a jeopardy template and split the students into groups.I find everybody like a good game even adult learners.
Hi Ana,
I love the variation. Varied teaching methods really add excitement to the course.
Patricia Scales
Since everyone learns differently, I try to vary each lesson by lecturing, having group discussions, assigning structured small group projects/dicussions, use of multi-media, and independent assignments to assess mastery of content. Usually, this variation (and quick pace) will keep "inattentive" students on track. Sometimes, it takes more than that. If I notice my lecture isn't captivating enough for some, I try to do something unexpected or unplanned. Sometimes, just taking a break from the lecture and having students summarize the content will get the inattentive students to pay attention. At other times, I may stop mid-lecture (or mid-activity) and have students break into groups to teach each other or discuss what we've covered so far. The jigsaw strategy is one I like to use, especially if the content itself may not seem too engaging. This way, the students are in the position of learner and teacher at the same time.
Hi Sandy,
Students love it when the lecture is followed by application. It is nothing like testing theory by doing.
Patricia Scales
Breaking up class into ~15 lecture followed by an activity which reinforces lecture content in a creative and engaging way.
Sometimes, I will dance or say something stupid to get the students attention. I will also play games to keep them entertained and get back into the material that is being taught
Always walk around the room when lecturing and after discussing several key points, ask critical thinking questions. Allow student to get their "wheels turning" and work together to come up with answers.
I USUALLY CALL ON STUDENTS RANDOMLY: SO EVERYONE IN ESSESENCE HAS TO PAY ATTENTION, BECAUSE,YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN I WILL CALL ON YOU.