A method I have used to capture students' attention is to ask a question. I use questions to follow up on information I have just presented. I also use questions to begin a topic and randomly call on students for their input. This gets the students thinking about experiences they have had with the topic and it helps to get the uninterested or preoccupied student involved.
If it is not a rampant problem, I usually try to gather everyones attention with humor. Ill attempt this strategy a couple times. If my attempts fail or only round up the classes attention for a short period, I very directly shut down the class and reiterate the rules of MY classroom as laid out on day one.
In an online environment this is a bit more problematic that on-ground. I taught face to face for years also and utilized many of the techniques that I see my colleagues here espousing. In an online environment when a student is "inattentive" it generally means they have ceased to participate or are not participating adequately. In that case, in an online environment the key is to give them a gentle "wake up call." This usually translated to a private communication of some variety. I start with CTU email and if no response (which to me means they aren't even accessing the CTU site at all) I will followup with an email to their actual personal internet address, usually also copying their adviser. That usually wakes them up!
ken
Hi William,
I really like how you use what students love (Cell Phones) to get them to learn and stay involved. Generation Y is really tecnhnology driven, and it is good to utilize technology every opportunity you get to keep students interest.
Patricia
I am the energizer bunny in the classroom, so I am all over the place. This cuts down on the cell phone use or IMing.
I also get the students involved with numerous role playing activities.
I remember what it was like to sit through a 4 hour lecture myself; I have found that as long as I have an activity every hour that gets their blood flowing and gets them all involved through along collaborative encouragement then it makes the learning environment less stressful and more enjoyable.
Hi Corinne,
I have a voice that really projects, and my loundness has been a sure way to grab students' attention. I also am very animated with my teaching.
Patricia
I am fortunate enough to have a large lab that I am constantly roaming around as I lecture. I have found that keeps disruptive behavior to a minimum. Because cell phones are so important to students today, I actually will ask them to look up a topic on their phones and we will discuss what they find.
Move around the classroom, use your tone of voice so its loud and interesting and break into small groups for assignments after information overload.
I try to break up my lectures by adding a story of my on-the-job experience. It wakes everyone up and brings some relevance to why I am talking about it in the lecture. It is really neat to see the light bulbs come on in their faces!! :) It also creates more interest and generates really great questions and discussion too.
Handouts,power points,and class speakers related to topics
Hi Tracy,
I like the idea of showing your students the results from hooking up both ways. Students need visuals as much as possible as well as hands on.
Patricia
As many have replied, roaming the class as you lecture and discuss topics is a great way to get the inattentive students involved. I also use small breakout groups to get the inattentive student involved. If I see the inattentive show interest in a particular topic I will try to get them involved by asking their thoughts or asking a question where they just have to state an opinion. Sometimes that inattentive student is just afraid to open up to discussions because of a previous bad experience in the classroom.
Call on them in class and guide there input so as to show them that their input is important
students are more tech savy than many instructors and are usually very good at technology. If they are shown something once or twice they usuall get it.
Having taught in both campus-based and online classrooms I find capturing student attention to be much easier in the classroom. I did many of the things discussed in this module. I walked around the room. I called on the quiet students. I create different groups. And I found something to compliment about each of my students.
In the online classroom some of these things can't be done. But some can, just in a different way.
I start out the quarter with the syllabus and the course policies in which I explain when assignments are due, what is the procedure for quizzes and tests, and how late work will be handled. Then I email each studnet inidividually that first week to introduce myself to them and ask them to reply with information about themselves that they feel comfortable sharing. I use this information all quarter to remind them of why they are in class and to better understand their inidividual circumstances as they take my class.
If I feel like a students is not keeping up I will call on them and get them involved. Some students are just a little shy and that is why they should be engaged to be apart of disicussion.
Hi Lisa,
No student likes to be put on blast. It sounds as though you handle things very professionally and tactfully.
Patricia
Divide the class into groups with each student having an individual contribution and responsibility for the group.
I am moving around all the time. Pacing front to rear and I also tend to joke at appropriate times.
I tend to call on specific students to give examples of what they have read and how it applies to their clinical settings
