Join eSchool News for 12 Days of edtech with the most read and loved stories of 2024. On the 10th Day of edtech, our story focuses on student engagement.
Key points:
As someone who started teaching high school, I've had a lot of firsthand experience dealing with boredom in the classroom. Most educators will recognize the signs: students sleeping during class, students watching the clock, students daydreaming when they should be paying attention. If, like me, you work with younger students, you may have even seen one or two get up and start wandering around the classroom. Needless to say, these things can be very disruptive and undermine our ability to manage the classroom.
Despite these problems, over time I have learned that boredom in itself is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, when addressed correctly, boredom can become a powerful positive force in the classroom.
Typically, student boredom is triggered by a lack of options, challenges, or engagement in a lesson. This means educators can take advantage of boredom by adapting their content to meet students' needs. These adaptations don't have to be complicated either. In fact, there are several simple methods teachers can use to encourage student engagement while encouraging curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.
Below are five strategies that I have found incredibly helpful in turning a lackadaisical lesson plan into student brilliance:
- The boring board: Extra time, free time, free time, whatever you call it, can be a good time for students to pursue some of their own interests. However, not all students know what to do with this time! The “Boring Board” can help provide students with options and eliminate the question “I'm done, now what?“This can be a physical brochure, but it also works great as a digital tool that can link to text, videos, interactive simulations and more.
- Learning menus: Provide students with a learning menu full of intellectually rich activities. Students can then choose which activities to complete to meet their assigned requirements. It is best to include options that differentiate the content (such as harder or easier texts), the process (such as where to work), and the product (such as presentation format). This can take the form of a tic-tac-toe board, an appetizer, main course and dessert, or any other format you can think of.
- Notes Treasure Hunt: Turn your next conference into something interactive and exciting! Create a handout with blank spaces to fill in, then post QR codes, books, articles, or other materials around the room and allow students to move freely and explore each resource to complete their notes. This strategy actively engages students in note-taking and gets them up, moving, and thinking.
- Only wrong answers: Have students find the best incorrect answers to a question. Incorrect answers can be great because they show a common mistake, because they are the exact opposite of the correct answer, or because they are just fun. Students will be challenged to deeply understand the correct answer in order to get it right.
- Project-based learning: Through PBL, students work on practical, real-world projects that are relevant and interesting to them, fostering a deeper connection to the subject matter. This approach encourages critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration, as students often work in groups and learn from each other. The dynamic nature of PBL keeps students interested and motivated.
When we use boredom as a catalyst for creativity and self-discovery, we show students that learning is more than just memorizing old facts. Learning is about addressing questions, using knowledge to expand our horizons, and equipping ourselves with the tools necessary to meet new challenges as we grow.
So when you see boredom starting to take over your classroom, take steps to channel it into something positive. After all, a little boredom could be the starting point of a student's continued learning journey.
See the previous 12 days of edtech:
1st edtech Day
2nd day of edtech
3rd edtech Day
4th edtech Day
5th edtech Day
6th edtech Day
Seventh day of edtech
Eighth day of edtech
Ninth day of edtech
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