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Recognize the attention span of the
students—15-20 minutes of lecture followed by an activity and then additional
lecture if needed is an ideal timeline.
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Determine what information could be delivered
in a form other than lecture—and develop those methods, i.e., video, internet,
collaboration among students, student presentation, outside readings.
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Clarify in detail how and why you approach
teaching the course in the manner that you do. Example “ This is why I give
quizzes at the end of class.”
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Do everything possible to get to know the
students—seating chart, taking their pictures, having lunch with them,
offering bonus points for office visits, etc. A positive relationship with the
students builds a willingness of their part to staying on task.
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Use a visual display of the outline of the
day’s course topics—this will make following the flow of the class much
easier.
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Have a beginning, middle, and end to the class.
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Keep a log of everything that works so it can
be repeated---and what was awful so it can be discarded.
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Give a background questionnaire to check
content and skill readiness and to help make connections to students’ life
experiences.
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Move around the class when talking—this engages
the students more actively.
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Set up questions or problems that the day’s
class will answer as the course material is discussed or lectured. Refer often
to how the material being lectured is addressing the problem(s).
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Keep track of frequently asked questions and
build a web site with the questions and answers that students can be referred
to--this can be a big help to students
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Develop a Student Management Team—a group of
4-5 students that represent the interest of all of the students and met with
you to share concerns and ideas on how to make the class better.
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Vary your daily routine in class.
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Reward risk-taking. If students know you
reward asking questions and volunteering and attempts to solve problems, they
will be much more inclined to try.
Under Construction -- Watch for Updates