Directing Students’ Attention

These are some ideas used by many professors to acquire students’ attention and keep them engaged during class.

  • Greet students at the door when they enter the classroom.
  • Start the class on time.
  • Give a pre-test on the day’s topic.
  • Start the lecture with a puzzle, question, paradox, picture, or cartoon on slide or transparency in order to focus on the day’s topic.
  • Elicit student questions and concerns at the beginning of the class and list these on the chalkboard to be answered during the hour.
  • Ask the person who is reading the student newspaper what is in the news today.