So true! I have started my instructional journey and I find that I have to keep my creative geniuses active in order to hold the student's attention. i, constantly, think about how I can reach the student and engage them to participate.

I too am always trying to figure out new and creative ways to engage the students.  A couple of times I took the entire class outdoors and conducted class there.  I have played games where if a student answers a question, they get to put a sticker on a game board.  Other times I have called for a volunteer to be the reporter of the hour.  This keeps everyone on their toes!  I have gone around the room, asking the students to state their name and say something interesting about themselves.

I love reading everyone's comments and posts regarding ways to engage students. I wonder though regarding content. I have 1 hour twice a week and have a ton of material that my students absolutely must know in order to pass the nursing boards. Any suggestions on how to incorporate learning of new material in a fun way?

 

 

I cannot agree more.  I am also an entertainer.  I like cracking some jokes here and there.  My students seem to like my class that way.  They state that I keep them awake at 0730 in the morning.

i totally agree 100 %!

I agree with Kiona.  While I try to use entertaining anecdotes to help students connect the material to real-life, I focus on the course material at all times.  I vary teaching methods so my students are not bored by a continuous, monotonous lecture, but I don't bring in props or play games.  I think sometimes the students may become more comfortable with the entertainment factors and lose track of the education value when they move from class to class, similar to a child who will not complete a chore without an immediate payment.  Has anyone had to make changes because this behavior has occurred?

Sometimes I feel that the students are rating us on entertainment value, but I continue to reinforce the relevancy of the material by providing examples from the work place.  Students sometimes provide the entertainment themselves!  I need to be interesting and upbeat because I'm often teaching at 9:30 at night, and they've been working all day.

This is so true and especially so when doing a synchronistic online discussion where the stories and your vocal intonations to hold the students' interest in the subject matter.