Students do not pay attention in class for many of the same reasons teachers do not pay attention at staff in-services.
Topics need to be relevant, applicable, current, and presented in a variety of fashions to gain and hold students’ attention. One way to help with this is to find out what motivates the students. Individuals who have little interest or motivation to learn the top will stray quickly.
The basic structure of our educational system makes it difficult for teachers to dispense knowledge that will hold students’ attention. Students are not placed in groups based on interest or likes but rather things like ability.
One way to attempt to keep students’ attention is to change things up frequently. Keep them wondering what is next.
