capturing attention
Walking the classroom as you lecture and also call on the students for their imput always
When my class begins to look unfocused I too find it good to use something physical to capture their attention.
I teach HVAC/R (air conditiong and refrigeration).
I like to show the class something physical - an electrical wire arcing on a control device or a gas or oil ignighted - when a dry topic is being covered or an explaination is very wordy.
Almost always all the students sit up and take notice. I now ask them how and why it works? I don't tell them until later in the class or even the next class.
This usually carries over to some unsoliciated student homework and discussions in the next class.
