The Science Behind Engaging Students in Class

Another gem from Kevin! Great use of pictures and ARS! Death by Powerpoint is up next for review.

Comments

Engaging Students in Class

I agree with the factors leading to 'lecture-algia': Poor organization & lack of planning, 'chalk talk', directed lessons, lack of student engagement, passive learning aka lectures, instead of active participation, poor delivery, focus on sensory memory instead of meaningful long term memory, lack of audio-visual and interactive lessons, lack of connections to prior experiences and to real life situations, lack of instructor enthusiasm and passion, lack of tools (videos, animations- tutorials, clickers, computer assisted instruction to meet the needs of each student, hands on activities for discovery), ... 

 

  • Strategies:
    1) focus away from rote learning and towards critical thinking
    2) empower students
    3) motivate students
    4) engage students
    5) Be prepared
    6) Use all the tools in your toolbox to stimulate thinking
    7) accept student answers... it’s part of the learning process
    8) include videos, audio/visual, interactive software, animated tutorials, hands on activities, cooperative group learning
    9) include real life examples and build on previous knowledge
    10) Be enthusiastic and passionate
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  • Rick
  • Elementary Teacher for 12 years
  • KLCS CITVA Award in 1995
  • 7 KLCS VIC Awards, 1996-1998
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  • 1997 KLCS VIC Awards
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    Good recs

    Rick,

    Thanks for your comment on this post.  The strategies you recommend are  spot on and great examples of how to combat lecturalgia!

    Kevin

    Thanks and context

    John,

    Thanks for posting.  Here is what I wrote for the context of this new iteration.

    I have been experimenting with one of my previous lectures, How To Fight Lecturalgia, in terms of incorporating the feedback, questions, and discussions that have followed after presenting it at several universities.  This new presentation is titled, The Science Behind Engaging Students in Class.  My primary aim was to make the scientific or evidence-based approach I used more readily apparent.  I specifically wanted  to enhance its literature-driven  model to give some depth as to the ‘why’  of the recommendations to augment the ‘what’.  So this presentation represents the attempt to provide theoretical and research underpinnings for use of an audience response system as well as visual design and cognitive load elements used to engage students.

    @kevinclauson