Intertain with education
All ways keep your students learning and active in the class at all times
I perceive myself as less a scholar and more a stand-up when teaching. I begin a course by telling students that I've come to realize that one can learn via pain or learn via pleasure and that I choose the latter. Specifically, if I can, I tell them I will try to make the entire course fun. That humor will be liberally included each class meeting. I find one thing that keeps everyone on track is a good laugh about something relevant to what the class is learning. It can take the form of a joke or a humorous anecdote. I encourage smiles and laughter whenever possible. One tactic I use is this: I ask the class if any of them have seen a film called "Dangerous Minds." I then tell them the basic plot, but pause when I get to the part that the lead played by Michelle Pfeiffer, is not getting the attention of her students, who are a tough group from the projects nearby. So she brings in a box full of candy bars and whenever a student answers a question correctly, she tosses them a candy bar. I follow this with, "I've always wanted to look like Ms. Pfeiffer, so I have a deal to propose. Next week, I'll bring in candy bars and whenever you ask a relevant question or answer a question correctly, I'll toss a candy bar to you - but there's one catch... I'm going to pretend I'm Michelle Pfeiffer when I do this and you're not allowed to say anything that prohibits me form imagining that.So,do we have a deal?" They always laugh and the next class I bring in the candy and it works every time.
W.H.
We use the term edutainment on our campus. Thinking outside the box definitely keeps students engaged. As an example, quiz/test reviews often turn into game shows. Jeopardy, wheel, etc
Hi Lovett,
That's right, do not give your students idol time. Keep they involved and engaged.
Patricia Scales
