Capturing student attention
What are some ways you can capture the attention of inattentive students?
I like to walk around the room when I lecture. If I notice someone is not engaged I ask them what they think about what we are talking about. I ask a lot of questions during my lecture to keep the students engaged.
Hi Colby,
Try a variety of various teaching methods, especailly simulations, role playing, scenarios, games, etc.
Patricia Scales
One way I use to capture attention, is that I do not "stand still". I meander around the classroom as I'm lecturing. I ask a LOT of questions. I try to incorporate news items that may pertain to class discussion. Small group projects are always a good choice. I share a lot of real life stories that pertain to class material. I seldom use PowerPoint, as I find that is usually too intense for career students. I have had a lot of opportunities to travel the world and bringing examples from other countries is always an attention-getter.
break the class into small groups and have them do group project.
switch up the seating so they are not in the back of the room anymore
I really like your ideas for keeping the students engaged and from losing them. We have class for 4 1/2 hours with 4 10 minute breaks so I use those same tactics in my class. Any other ideas.?
Do you do this to help you evaluate how much they are listening during the second half of the lecture?
Hi Carl,
Great way to reel a student in. People really do listen to what they are interested in.
Patricia Scales
Hi John,
I love how you keep your students engaged. It appears that you have a very high energy level. Our students need engaging activities to keep them excited.
Patricia Scales
Students that are inattentive can be brought into the class by discovering what their personal interests are and bend your discussions to include their special topic.
I had a inattentive student that was dead to the world in my class. I discovered that she desired to work in the prison system . Every lecture i added some take on how this discussion topic could be used in a prison. Or if you approach a prisoner , or guard... just a few words, she sat up became interested and listen happily.
Body language and positioning yourself in the classroom, student interaction wakes students up too.
Hi William,
Great way to reel students back in when they have lost their focus.
Patricia Scales
The more activity the more attention. Instructors should move around the room. Use handouts and models - have students pass them around. Have students stand and participate in learning adventures (example - anatomical directions: superior, inferior, anterior, posterior). Take a break and ask a thought-provoking question or a recent news item related to the subject being discussed.
Some ways that you can capture the attention of inattentive students include trying to break up the lecture time into different activities, not just the student sitting and listening to the instructor lecture. Some examples would be to lecture for a period of time, take a short break, show a short video presentation and then have a group activity. This adds variety to the learning environment in hopes that it will maintain the attention of most (if not all) students!
I find that many inattentive students enjoy the opportunity to relate a personal anecdote from time to time. So if I notice a student losing focus , I will call on them to relate a personal story involving the current lecture topic.
I teach a four hour class. I find that one of the strategies that often works for recapturing the student's attention is to ask their opinion on an issue related to the material. Often this will result in a lively discussion that can be directed back to the specific material of the lesson. I often learn some new things too!
Hi Staci,
Asking students question is certainly a great way to get students involved and to generate great discussion.
Patricia Scales
Break them up into groups with students that are a little more active than them.
The number of students in my classes are normally under 10, so I try include all students in discussions. I will ask each a question and get them all involved in the topic at hand.
I apply challenging learning concepts to real life professional examples. I teach clincal chemistry, so I share my past experiences in a clinical laboratory.
I use humor to get their attention.
