Sometimes I try to change up the lecture and start doing more hands on or interactive ways of teaching. Sometimes I will have the students speak individually in front of one another for self evaluation on interviewing. Then be graded by their peers.
Hi Ronald,
Visuals are a sure way to capture attention. Seeing is believing!
Patricia
Hi David,
This is a great way to keep students on their toes. They must be ready at all times.
Patricia
Hi Martin,
I became excited simply from reading your response. I can tell your studens enjoy your class. You keep them entertained.
Patricia
EDUTAINMENT: Education with Entertainment, as I present material to the class (lecture) I am a very animated instructor. I act as if the material I am presenting is the most interesting thing on the planet and how knowing this material is going to benefit them. I raise and lower my voice from too loud to a whisper. I walk around the room flailing my arms as if I were a T.V. evagelist expounding the ideas and theories of the material I am presenting. The students seem to enjoy it and keeping their attention is both easy and fun for me!
I like asking them for help especially during a demonstration. Doing this gets them out of their seat, walking to the front, and suddenly fully engaged in what we are doing. Sometimes I can sense some embarrassment, especially if their inattentiveness left them unprepared. I respond by walking them thru the task being careful not to be critical of them not being prepared. Most of the time they will be more focused because they never know if they will be called upon again to perform.
When assigning some projects in design, I like to do a demonstration of technique. I may be something that they can try themselves, or not, but it helps them to visualize at least one way it could be done. In class demonstrations generally get students attention especially if the method or technique is new to them.
Hi Scott,
What a great tactic to try to get the inattentive student involved. If all else fails as you will do, the student needs to be spoken to.
Patricia
Hi Patricia,
Having students do board work is an excellent way to keep students interested and involved.
Patricia
Hi Paul,
Asking students questions about the lecture can certainly get students attention. When they are called upon they want to give the correct answer.
Patricia
I do a call out ask questions of the class based on the lecture or labs or walk around the class during a lecture.
That is an excellent way to capture a student who seems to be lost or inattentive. We sometimes have students go to the board and the moving around gets them involved.
When I spot a student who appears to be inattentive, I try to bring them into the lecture by using a humorous analogy or relevant scenario with them and another student in it. For the most part it seems to bring them around. If the problem persists, I talk to them privately and try to find out if there’s a problem causing the distraction.
Hi Lisa,
It is an old strategy, but it still works.
Patricia
Hi Jacqueline,
Wow, you get me interested! I can tell how this little talk can capture attention.
Patricia
Hi Beverlin,
What do you do to capture students attention?
Patricia
Hello Jeremy,
You do have to do a mixture of teaching methods in 4-hour classes to keep things exciting. Breaking every 50 minutes is also important.
Patricia
Hi Donald,
You get visual from the very beginning to get students excited. Seeing brings about questions. Questions bring out great discussion and excitement.
Patricia
I get their attention by drawing a wiring diagram on the board before they arrive. As the get settled, they notice the drawing and start to analyze it. This gets them in the right mind set and focused on the class material. After attendance is taken, I have one explain the circuit. Works well for me.
Hi William,
It is great that you utilize various methods to capture your students attention. You reach all learners by using the various methods.
Patricia
