Keeping Students Engaged: A Prerequisite for Learning

Abstract

It is argued that students, similar to other humans, have their own problems, and that they are also impacted by their families’ problems. In line with this contention, it is absurd to expect all of them to be motivated and engaged in the classroom. Despite this difficulty, it is necessary to keep students involved to help them with learning. The discussion demonstrates the necessity of keeping students engaged because this engagement is a prerequisite for learning. To achieve this objective, this study suggests using a few strategies that have been used for so many years, and that are at the center of the attention of educators and teachers alike. Experience-based, these strategies represent my methodology, and they are as follows: careful planning, creating a safe and comfortable classroom environment, evading prejudice, calling students by their names, varying instructional strategies, minimizing criticism and praising students, relating the lesson to students’ experiences and future careers. These strategies have been responsible for not only keeping students involved but also changing them into lifelong learners. It is the teacher’s job to keep students involved in the discussion and eliminate dead time. If this involvement is lacking, there won’t be any learning.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n5p576