STUDENT ENGAGEMENT PART 2
At a recent conference I attended, some of the most popular sessions with standing room only crowds, were those addressing the issue of Student Engagement. Keeping students motivated and engaged throughout the class period is challenging. Today’s students are used to action packed video games, the internet, and fast paced television programs with music and 3-D videos. So what is a teacher to do?
Krislyn Stephens with the Institute for Public School Initiatives at The University of Texas presented the following suggestions.
- Include game-like activities and competition
- Incorporate physical movement
- Have opportunities for friendly controversy
- Use humor
- Use technology when appropriate
- Connect to your students’ lives
- Use effective questioning strategies
- Provide choice
Why not ask your students what motivates them? What would they like to see? Just knowing that you care enough to ask can make a difference, and you might just learn something about your students.
