Student engagement in lecture is one of significant issue now in developed economy. How can we motivate them? What could be the effective method in this?
Use stories to keep them engaged, show some videos, give them a topic to discuss and limit the lecture to 1 hour. Attention span of student is limited to 1/2 hour.
H.M. Belal
Thank you for your excellent question. I recommend using several strategies to engage students. You could use the flipped classroom in giving difficult lectures.
Other techniques you could use is to use interactive lectures and starting the talk with a 5-minute YouTube video that highlights practicalities related to the discussion. Place a slide with a single best MCQ every 10 minutes, to see if they are engaged and follow what was discussed. Also, use positive reinforcement, explain difficult concepts by drawing simple diagrams on the whiteboard, keep things simple at the level of your students, give "key Lessons or Take home messages" at the end.
Dear H.M. Belal ,
I would recommend a short fun physical exercise half way through. I learnt this technique recently when I was doing voluntary work in Uganda.
A prof should look at as many individuals or groups of students as possible, during the presentation or lecture. Eye contact is very important and the degree of that of course varies per quantity of students in the classroom or auditorium. I think one should be excited and enthusiastic about any answer, just because the student had the courage to talk. Incorrect answers can be politely steered over to correct ones, as no students should leave with the wrong answers. Students should be lauded for participating at all. have taught in America , China, Hong Kong and Thailand. I have always learned form my students and I often say that.
Case Study Analysis and Role Play are the routine methods in Management Sciences, but may not be effective all the time in all subjects, hence I believe that the participatory teaching as mentioned below will be more useful to create the interest among students.
1. Before starting the lecture, I ask some questions to check the follow up in the completed lesson of the earlier day then every student will become alert and active in the class.
I also appreciate the students who respond to my questions to inspire and motivate them.
2. I give the topic relating to the subject and ask the team of the students (3 to 4) in the class on a random basis to give the presentation to the class after half an hour break. This experiment gave a good response
3. When I take the last session of the day, students will be tired and reluctant to listen by that time, therefore I divide the students like groups and conduct the oral quiz in the completed topics.
In this process, one of the students will act as a moderator and write the marks scored by various groups on the board. In the end, the group which scored high marks will be declared as the winners so that every group will try to compete with each other.
Dr.L.Krishna Veni
Professor, Siva Sivani Institute of Management
Secunderabad
I follow the Socratic method of questions and answers involving every student in the classroom. I ask a question which if answered correctly helps me explain the concept or theory that I am about to teach. If the question Is not answered correctly I change the question slightly to help the student find the correct answer. If the student still can not answer the question I address the question to the next student or to the entire class. The Socratic method works well for me because it maximizes class participation and keeps students paying attention in class because at any time they may be asked to answer a question or they may volunteer to answer a question or ask a question. This method is superior to passive learning of straight lectures or the power point presentations. If teaching involves calculations (estimations) using computer software I show all the steps while students carry the same steps in their personal computers and thus involve all students.
best,
George K Zestos
Creating an immersive learning environment for the learners. Not only lectures but also combine your teaching method with a variety of learning objects; i.e. videos, simulations, game-based learning etc.
The reasons for low motivation among students must be identified and tackled well. You may use some tactics and remember that learners require some reward for learning. Rewarding students with praise, attention, and other types of encouragement surely works.
Students’ motivation can be intrinsic or extrinsic. When students are motivated from within, it is intrinsic motivation. For example, some students are driven by intellectual curiosity. By entrusting students with some responsibilities, the teacher can maintain their motivation at a high level. They should be encouraged to find out answers to open questions and queries by themselves. Similarly, students may do well, if they are motivated extrinsically (extrinsic motivation) too. For example, the expectation of receiving a certificate for its premium value of job guarantee rather than for the competencies it certifies is a strong motivating force. In a similar manner, students’ motivation is enhanced when they understand that the subject taught is important because of its practical significance.
Certain students try to get satisfaction in attaining competence and proficiency in a specific field when they understand that this gives them a better standing or enhanced influence in their community. This is usually called competence motivation.
To me, the most relevant method is the communicative approach since the main emphasis is devoted to the participation of students.