Purpose Statement
Some ways of dealing
with short attention spans.
Description of Activity
The fact that I don't "lecture" helps. Instead, in the course of a
semester I present many films, videos, slide programs, and audio recordings,
almost all of which are dramatic and attention gripping (so there's no problem
with students drifting off). Each presentation is then followed by a great many
questions that I pose to the students - questions that frequently require
self-searching for their personal reactions to various aspects of the media
presentation. This helps to keep the students' attention focused. And because
there are so many different questions, we don't usually stay on any single one
so long that attention diminishes. So much of our discussion is on
controversial issues that arguments frequently flare up - and that stimulates
attention as well. Then too, as I mentioned to a class just the other day, if I
ever do spot signs of boredom (those nodding heads, the eyes rolled up in the
head), all I have to do is mention sex in some form, and everyone is with me
again!
Materials Needed
None, except for media
materials.
Application
Keep things moving - and
keep watching students for signs of attention flagging.
this web
page was created on 11/7/99 at 2:20:52 PM
and modified on 11/7/99 at 2:20:52 PM