It is very important to achieve better attention of students in classes which will contribute to better learning.
The teacher must act differently from other. The body language is of utmost importance here. Just act like an actor on a stage and go over your topic with changing facial expression, body movement, eyes focusing and speech annotation and stress. With this quality, the students would concentrate on the teacher and would be attentive because the teacher would be interesting to them. Remember to add humor in your teaching so that the students enjoy teaching. This can be done through funny examples from everyday life to reinforce your teaching. There are other qualities as well, but I used the above one and give it more importance which is making me teaching very successful.
The teacher must act differently from other. The body language is of utmost importance here. Just act like an actor on a stage and go over your topic with changing facial expression, body movement, eyes focusing and speech annotation and stress. With this quality, the students would concentrate on the teacher and would be attentive because the teacher would be interesting to them. Remember to add humor in your teaching so that the students enjoy teaching. This can be done through funny examples from everyday life to reinforce your teaching. There are other qualities as well, but I used the above one and give it more importance which is making me teaching very successful.
I think this depends on the material a teacher delivers but in general he/she should employ all possible methods which would attract all of their senses such as using contextualization.
The teacher should be able to relate to students. The learning takes place in the interactionele between learner and teacher. There the main Quality must focus on. Make rapport to all students.
If I were to reduce my answer to one word, then I would say that a teacher needs to show PASSION. But it is not enough just to be passionate about the subject matter, the secret is to instil a 'passion for learning' the subject. If we really value our subject, then this should be obvious to our students. And, since we value our subject, we are passionate about giving others the chance to engage with it. If we do not show that we are passionate about learning then why should anyone else care? I tend to reject simplified notions of teaching styles as they tend to codify and limit individuals, it is better to teach the way that feels right to you whilst making it obvious that you care if your students learn.
Excellent question and should be considered by all teachers.
See my presentation here for more details:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260746795_Teaching_Excellence_Presentation?ev=prf_pub
Data Teaching Excellence Presentation
Dear Rolando
These suggestions may be useful:
When others notice a distracted student, ask him to repeat what you just said. Go to the place where his students were seated .
Show students what bothers and why the lack of attention can disrupt both their own performance , encouraging debate with different content . Move around during class . Establish competitions in the classroom so that students will be motivated to pay attention to what you say ..
Stay tuned to what he calls the attention of their students pass and to incorporate it in the class .If cell is a problem , make an agreement with students limiting their use . Or try to include them in your teaching . Identify students who cause the most problems and have an honest conversation with them . Do it in private , not to expose the problems of their students .Take short breaks for your lesson does not become so tiring . Need not be long periods , only a moment to rest .. Ask your students what they think about the teaching method . Accept suggestions for changes .
Discover new games that can be adapted to the subject you teach. In the latter case , put your head to work and make yourself a game .
Use practical content , get the books and take the field with their students . This will also improve the understanding of the subject .
Let your students look for information about what is being studied .
Select some students to assist you during class . Choices change often . The music can be used in different ways. You can find lyrics that relate to the content studied or simply choose calm melodies to use as background music.Mount a sort of quiz , so that their students need to pay attention to the quiz. Have the students to move , change position during the classes . Find a way to reward those students who always remain attentive to what you say . Ask your students why it is difficult to keep attention in your class
If after all this you can not keep the attention of students , talk to a psychiatrist ....
It is necessary for the teacher to link what he/she is teaching to the real life examples that the student can easily associate will help the student understand the importance of what he/she is learning. That will bring enthusiasm into the classroom. Teach them the historical references for the subject matter and about the scientists involved with the subject. Involve and encourage them to go beyond what is part of the course work. That would allow them to dream and get inspiration.
a teacher must learn not to make teaching teacher-centered.If the teacher is competent enough to use an interactive method to teach ,all students attention is drawn,when a thought provoking concept is raised.The focus should be on arousing the learning ability of learners by involving them all.Tailor the teaching to real life situation,giving many senarios ,and see your class come alive.
@ Ijeoma. I totally agree with what you say. people talk about keeping eye contact and moving about to engage students, however I believe that when learning is students centred, you will teach in a way well and "instill passion for learning" as said above. I am currently involved in a research involving blind students and while body language is generally helpful in a regular situation, the need for more creativity is required. The passion, sincerity in the teachers voice and teaching, using real life experiences to ground your lessons, show a genuine care for your students' learning and more students will respond to this than not. So I would say yes, it begins with a focus on students learning, rather than just the teaching process. Teachers' attitudes and beliefs also come into play.
HI Rolando,
I found this useful:
http://www.washington.edu/teaching/teaching-resources/engaging-students-in-learning/
Please try the ideas and tell me about it.
Insert a break into you lessons ever fifteen minutes or so, as this has been shown to be the average attention span. It need not be a formal break. You can turn around suddenly and ask a question related to you lesson. Let the students think about for a minute, then give the answer. Ask how many thought of it. Then return to what you were talking about.
Dear Fayyaz, Everard, Rababah, Erik, Nageswara, Nelson, Ijeoma, Chioma, Miranda and George, thank you very much for the important contributions!!.
@Vandana,
you just repeated my arguements not to teach with flip techniques or other teaching methods at distance (see the QA to this problem here in RG), instead beeing present in direct contact to the students..
Dear Vandana and Hanno, thank you very much for the important contributions!
For the teacher in order to maintain the students' attention at all times in their classes, the teacher should concentrate on case studies and critical thinking. Brainstorming is another way to draw the students` attention in class.
Include real-life situations familiar to all as examples to lecture content & visual effects (pictures, videos, youtube clips)
One of the best ways to maintain students’ attention is to provide them with the relevant knowledge, that is to say, practical application of theory. Developing critical thinking by using real life scenarios or problem-based learning will help engage students in discussions, so they become active learners instead of passive listeners.
And definitely by giving feedback to our students we motivate them to learn beyond the curriculum program.
I guess this question has been one of the foundations and generating factors of education research.
The fact that there are many questions perhaps shows that it all depends on the personality of teacher.
No solution is panacea. Management is the key.
The teacher needs to know what the learners need or want, at any time (do they want to play, discuss, listen etc).
The teacher must also be aware of how to promote it (either linking it with everyday life, either using the appropriate attractive material, or by intriguing students, group work).
Certainly this is the ideal (in other words, it is easier said than done).
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