HOW TO ENGAGE YOUR CLASS
Dr. (Prof.) Nisha Singh
Chair Person-Business, Livingstone College, NC, USA
The purpose of this article is not to discuss any pedagogy of class room teaching in higher education but to explore the best ways to engage the students in your class through the syllabus and your personal dispositions. What I am going to discuss will clearly demarcate the effects of the Indian system and that of USA. The observation of Washington University “Research has demonstrated that engaging students in the learning process increase their attention and focus, motivates them to practice higher-level critical thinking skills and promotes meaningful learning experiences. Instructors who adopt a student-centered approach to instruction increase opportunities for student engagement, which then helps everyone more successfully achieve the course’s learning objectives” is fully endorsed which I have applied and found successful.(https://www.washington.edu/teaching/teaching-resources/engaging-students-in-learning/)
- ‘Before engaging your class engage yourself’- That is, come well prepared for the topic of syllabus through which you are going to engage your class. It is better to discuss other things rather than ill-prepared topics.
- ‘Rectify your attitude’- That is, friendly attitude with the students rather than authoritarian will help you in attaching your students in what you propose to discuss.
- ‘You are a learner beside a teacher in the class’-That is, Your students have a different background with different social strata as such have different status and capacity of their minds, as far as learning is concerned. Therefore always arrange your students in 2 to 3 categories and be careful of your language, explanations, and examples so that everyone is able to assimilate. Try to quote examples for an explanation from the day to day happenings, products or services. This will create more interest in your subject and help in engaging your students.
- ‘Ensure your availability for doubt clearing’- That is, establish strong confidence in your students for any time doubt clearing by making your availability and accessibility. This is a very weak aspect of the higher education scenario in India.
- ‘You are a guide rather than an owner of your students’-That is, apart from academic learning you are a guide of your class. Do participate in other activities with your students apart from your usual classroom teaching, such as extracurricular activities, cultural and social activities, get together and annual functions etc.
- ‘Techno-tool teaching engagement ’-That is, In-classroom technologies — podium-based computers, wireless, real-time response systems (e.g., clickers) and web-based tools (e.g., blogs, online forums, wikis, podcasts, etc.) — continue to change rapidly. These tools have a high potential for supporting student learning in creative and innovative ways when properly aligned with the instructor’s learning objectives and course content. Students find more engagement in class and can respond much better to your teachings.
- ‘Participation motivation’-That is, it’s good to remind ourselves of its many different uses, especially on those days when getting students to participate feels like pulling hens’ teeth. Participation grows interest in students, flourishes discussions develops speaking power and gives the class teacher actual feedback of her/his teaching.
- ‘Attachment with your class’-That is, If you are not attached to your class and students, you are definitely detached which will decrease your student’s engagement. You can afford to be detached from your Institution like a professional but this cannot be applied to your class and its students.
References:
- https://www.washington.edu/teaching/teaching-resources/engaging-students-in-learning/
2.https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-and-learning/10-benefits-of-getting-students-to-participate-in-classroom-discussions/
- https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/divisions/Teaching-and-Learning-Centre/