Do your teachers seem to care if the students are not paying attention to them?

Question

I am teaching Adults as part of a certificate program. I have guaranteed enrollment because people who are taking this class need to attend my course, but that does not mean that they want to be there or have any interest in what I am talking about.

I am doing everything I can to make the topic interesting and use all the techniques to make my vocal delivery interesting, but about 1/3 of the class seems to be bored and not paying attention. They are clock watching just counting down the minutes to the end of the class.

Should I be concerned about these students or just ignore them and teach to the people who are interested? How does your teacher respond to people who are not interested in what he/she has to say?

Answer 1

There must be some way to engage these people. Instead of lecturing, ask questions. People like to be heard, given the opportunity. In any case, they're polite, so they'll learn something, even though you're boring them to death.

Answer 2

Two thoughts:
1) If the students need to be there and do not have to pass, they are not motivated to do anything more than be a warm body.

Since you say your class is part of a certification program, is it possible that some of the students already know (or think they know) what is being taught? That would cause them to be bored.

Some of the classes I have taken, have the students take a pre-class survey, which asks things like: "Why are you taking the class?" or "What do you hope to get out of the class?" One teacher had us fill out 3x5 cards with information like spouses/significant other, kids and their ages, where you worked (if you were working) or which high school you when to if you were one of the dual enrolled (high schoolers taking college classes). If your program doesn't have something like that, perhaps you could develop your own, to get some insight into where the students are coming from, like: is it possible they are clock watching because they have to get a kid from the sitter on time, or they can't miss the last bus to their neighborhood?

Possible questions might include: "In my ideal class, the teacher would teach like.." or "What prior experience do you have in (the subject of the class you are teaching) and would you be comfortable in sharing some of that experience with the class?" or "What is one thing you would like me to know about you (or the way you like to learn)?" This might allow insight as to what techniques might work better, or who might be able to be drawn into active participation in the class.

I would suppose you could ask seemingly random things, like your favorite music, or color. These might make the students think you care about them.

2) Keep in mind that some people absorb the lecture information, even though they aren't looking at you, or taking notes. My oldest son could mess around with a lump of clay or small item, or draw, and yet any time the teacher called on him, he knew where they were and could answer accurately.

Perhaps there is talent there that could be also drawn out to the benefit of the whole class. Like speaking to the student who is constantly sketching, and presenting a task (I have a lesson on such-and-such coming up, could you draw a poster, overhead (or whatever would work for your classroom) to help me explain.) This would encourage the student to study ahead to prepare for drawing, and would demonstrate to him that skills he already has are valuable to the learning process (whether it is his own, or that of the other students), and that he is not just a face lost in the crowd in your classroom.

Answer 3

It sounds like you are teaching adults that HAVE TO be there and probably have been working all day and want to go home. If you have been making the class interesting then there is nothing more that you can do. You could bring clowns in and they would still watch the clock. I would focus on the students that WANT TO be there and teach to them. Should you just ignore them and teach to the people who are interested? Absolutely.

Answer 4

Unfortunately there are people in this world like that. If you are a good teacher you will do anything to get them involved. Keep it up, but don't let them weigh you down!

Look for ways to involve them in the teaching. Even adults learn best in different ways. Some need to move around. Some need to talk. Some need to be quiet and do things on their own. You didn't say what you are trying to teach, but try different approaches ~ role play, debate, discussion. One of the best teachers I know teaches world history. He has his students conduct a trial in which they determine whether significant people are guilty or not guilty. The teenagers LOVE it! Good luck!

Answer 5

You can make some kind of sarcastic comments or a joke to point out the foolishness of in attention in class. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, as you are teaching adults you have to let them decide whether they want to pay attention.

Answer 6

Talk to them , counsel them.... you should be... unless... never mind.