Thank you for the reminder- I need to do more of this and will continue to work on it.
Hi Luis,
Yes, students would rather be doing hands-on activities instead of listening to lecture, but lecture is important in order to do the hands-on activities.
Patricia Scales
I feel lucky about this issue, because of the amount of time our class spends in the lab. During lecture if I notice a student losing their attention. I will bring up their lab project progress, recapturing their attention. It seems like someone brings up the word lab and everyone is ready to participate.
Have more than one topic to talk to students about
Hi Dave,
Yes, this is a great tactic to keep students engaged.
Patricia Scales
Keep the class interesting!
The suggestion of moving to where the inattentive student is sitting during lecture works very well. I try to keep moving during class as a way to keep all the students attention and show that I am involved, not just sitting or standing in the front of the room droning on and on and on...
This is good info I had not considered
I find the best way to engage an inattentive student is to show them how the information relates to their chosen trade. I like to take theory, where the inattentive student has the most difficulty and put their hands to it in the lab. I review the theory while performing the lab task. For most of theses students a light bulb goes off and they can better grasp the material. I find that they then pay more attention in class.
i have found that if you change the topic for a short period of time, this may assist with capturing the students attention. Or diverting their attention may be useful.
IN THE ORGANIZATION THAT I AM IN I TAKE THEM TO THE HANDS ON PORTION AND SEPARATE THE CLASS INTO GROUPS AND HAVE THEM AS THE LEAD. THEN ALLOW THEM TO GUIDE THE GROUP TO COMPLETE THE TASK AS A TEAM
Hi Cenek,
Sitting on the corner of the inattentive student desk is surely a way to get the student to pay attention. I like standing right beside the inattentive student to get the student to pay attention.
Patricia Scales
I like to teach from the back of the classroom or sit on the corner of the inattentive student desk.
Great idea. I read that 15 to 20 minutes is the limit of attention anyway. It helps to switch it up to keep their attention.
It often helps me to use humor. With humor I am usually able to keep their attention. Another way is to ask them questions... I'll ask them if anyone has evr experienced this, or if anyone has heard of this senario, etc. It typically helps me with engagement
Humor, then ask questions that pertain to the studies, quiz them, and if that does not seem to be working, have a chat with them in private to make sure everything is ok. Ask if there is anything I can do to get them interested in the subject at hand.
Classroom Walk Through: As a high school teacher before transitioning to SBC, principal implemented this strategy of walkthroughs to monitor instructional strategies as well as provide feedback to teachers on their instructional practices. This helps teachers also to move around and not static. This will put the inattentive student on notice that the instructor is up on his/her game and need to pay attention to the lecture in progress.
Hi Chris,
Great ways to utilize to capture students attention. Walking around is such a magical approach to keeping students engaged. The instructor needs to project energy to keep student engagement alive.
Patricia Scales
Hi Trudi,
Students really appreciate it when they can get one-on-one attention. Everyones likes to feel as though they are important.
Patricia Scales
In some instances I've had to teach in a computer lab where there is the extra challenge of keeping students off the computer when I lecture. Sometimes I will attempt to capture the attention of students by embracing the computers with search topics on the Internet in which students will discuss throughout my lecture. I also like to move around the classroom when I lecture to make sure everyone is paying attention. Another approach I've used is engaging students by integrating group activities. Typically a group will consist of a presenter, a note-taker, and contributors. Usually, the group discussion supports the lecture just given and it allows for shorter blocks of lecture to ensure students can stay engaged.
