Education Web Resources

6 Ways to Capture Students' Attention

Teachers often find it hard to keep the attention of students at any age or stage of development. Try these six techniques to get their attention and keep them learning.

Don't use only one method to deliver your information. Don't just lecture. Use power point. Don't just give examples. Show short clips. Use Dell educational technology and other such services to make their experience multi-faceted. By creating an atmosphere that changes and that uses modern technology, teachers give students more reasons to pay attention. If they don't respond to one clip or program, they will react positively to the next one. Our students live in a busy society. They don't know how to relate to a long recitation of facts. They can relate to those same lessons when the teacher uses several different approaches in the same lecture.

Find humorous examples. Use power point or other technological delivery systems to show comic strips that can make the point of a lesson. Children, teens and adult learners are used to a society where humor teaches. You can use that to your advantage by planning ahead and utilizing proven humor sources. You don't have to think of the jokes yourself when there are so many sources available.

Encourage them to work on their own. This can be as simple as a daily research project. It can include computer work using Dell Educational Technology. Then have them report back to the class on what they have learned.

Require note-taking and journaling. It has been proven that students learn more if they write it down. If they are too young to keep notes, have them write or draw in their journals about the day's lesson.

No age is too young or too old for show and tell. Make sure to include pictures, video and hands-on show and tell with your lessons. The more you can show, the more they will know.

Give them a list of scavenger hunt clues. Tell them to listen for the answers to the clues during the day's lesson. For those who follow-through, offer daily bonus points that can help boost their grade and self-esteem.

Finally, remember to praise effort, reward hard work and offer encouragement daily.

21.10.2011. 13:54