Re-energizing the Classroom
As a 20 yr sports coach I've never had any issues energizing a team, but students can present a different challenge when trying to keep the curriculum fresh and exciting for students. Some ways I use on the court/field that help are connecting with personal interests and motivations which supports a renewed sense of interest in students.
Mike,
Right you are about the challenge of keeping students engaged and focused. Instructors need to have a variety of activities planned that will keep the students moving forward toward their career goals while acquiring the needed course content and skills.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I really like the empowerment methods being a former coach also, kind of like looking at statistics with a focus on where you have come. The 3X5 card is a great way to show a before and after.
Brian,
I agree and this is why I use them regularly in my classes for feedback and student input. They are quick to handout, fill out and return while yielding great input for course planning.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
How do you keep students re-energized as they get towards the end of the term and they are overwhelmed with assignments from other classes?
VALERIE,
I try to introduce something new and different for us to do in the course. For example when they are worn down toward the end of the course I will take some class time to play review games, have mini-quiz bowls with prizes, etc.. Anything to pump them up a little and show them how far they have come in their learning thus far. This helps to get them fired up so they can get to the end of the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Gary:
I was planning on bringing in a team jeopardy trivia type game into my classroom for the reviews before the finals. How do I make sure that they stay focused on the activity and that they don't treat it as "childish" or a "waste of their time" ?
Nicole,
I have never had a problem with them thinking it is childish or a waste of time because I set up up to be competitive. I put them into teams and let them create a name for themselves. I have prizes for the winners (candy, I know calories but candy still motivates). With my promotion and build up the students are ramped up when we go into our game format. They also know that through the games and the resulting review they are going to do better on their tests since I have made the review process fun for them.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
At midterm what I try to do is have a clear vision set for the students for the last half of the class. This usually is centered around the idea that everything we have learned will need to be demonstrated creatively in the final project which is due on the last day of the course and it must be presented professionally by the student.
By clearly setting this expectation at midterm then following up with a creative process steps like presenting marker roughs, I can usually keep the class focused.
Joseph,
Good way to recapture their enthusiasm at the mid-point. By mid-point it is easy for students as you know to get worn down and they start to forget why they are in the course. Reminders like this gets them ramped up and focused on finishing their big project and the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
