Keeping students Attention
The instructor has to be able to figure out the class in about the first two days. The instructor has to keep the students attention by talking to them about what they want to hear and learn about.
Helen, could you share some of the techniques you use to reach different types of learners¿
Alternating daily routines are very important, by doing so you may reach everyone because there are different types of learners in one classroom setting.
I've found that if I fall into patterns of teaching techniques, the students are bored. Alternating daily routines and activities helps keep their interest.
Good point Brandon. What we talk about has to be not only what they want to hear and learn about but be consistent with the subject matter at hand. In error, instructors can spend the day talking about irrelevent experiences and current events and students may be perfectly happy. If that's the vibe picked out in those first few days, changing the vibe is the first task at hand.
To keep the students interested I try to get them involved in the teaching. If students are asking questions I do not always answers their questions, I allow other students to answer and then direct the question if they need to be alter in any way.
Could you share some specific techniques to engage the students?
Mr. Jackson I feel you are correct and I practice this idea with my students by having each student create their own project that they work on through the entire course with their own individual ideas and I discuss with the student one on one periodically to asses the level of interest which they hand in at the end of the course and I include in their final grade. Outside on hand community projects dealing with course content also keep students interested and help with retention.
Keeping them on thier toes works quite well. By constantly quizzing the learners during the lectures, it forces them to pay attantion. They never know when I may ask that one particular student a question.
Tim, you've hit the nail right on the head. I've looked in on classes that were only 20 minutes into a lecture or powerpoint and half of the class is asleep. I've also found that by constantly moving around the class keeps the students on their toes since they never know where you will be looking. It also gives you a better chance to ask the students questions on a face to face kind of basis.
You are right. If an instructor goes into a class and just reads form a book or power point, students will loose intrest real fast. You have to find ways to get the students to interact with the subject being taught. I find students learn more that way and also retain more.
I agree with you David, i always try to let my students know up-front that I'm no better than they are, i just have more experience than they do. I always try to keep it light in my classroom, with varying the pitch of my voice, walking around the entire classroom, and interacting with different students as i do this. I've noticed that many of your students will then keep eye contact with you as you walk and discuss the material at hand.
i think it helps to let some of what you are discussing roll over into their personal interests,just dont get too far off track
i think it helps to let some of what you are discussing roll over into their personal interests,just dont get too far off track
I keep students involved by asking questions,when they know that you will be asking questions to check their level of understanding, they seem to stay more engaged.
An excellent point, David. Would you please share some techniques you use to engage students and draw them out?
If an instructor thinks they can keep a students attention for 2 hours simply by droaning on only about course content they are doomed for failure.I find it is necessary to show an interest in what the student has to say which is not always easy. Many students need to have interaction pulled out of them because they are so used to being made to feel insignificant by previous schooling or even their peers.
I try to find out what they expect to get out of the course in the beginning. Most of the times it's easy to keep their intrest for the duration, othertimes its all you can do to keep it. Breaking up lectures with state changes, competitions, games or anything else does a good job for me to keep the intrest sparked. Normally I wont have more than one or two disinterested students near the end. Very rarely do I have a majority lose intrest no matter what I try. Either way I talk to them candidly and privatly to attempt to find out where or what lost them.
Both, they become too comfortable with thier surroundings they seem to loose interest with the subject at hand.
Pete, do you think learner's attention lessens as a course progresses because of increased confidence or waning interest? The answer will direct the remedy.
