Hello colleagues, I don't know about you, but in my classes, I often notice that adult learners come to class feeling tired. They have likedly worked all day, rushed home for dinner, and then made their way to class. In morning classes, I've often had students who work all night and come to class before heading home to sleep. Even if students are not tired, I believe that they all benefit from activities that get them up and moving. Brain science suggests that getting the body moving is valuable for learning.
I love the 4 ideas described in this brief blog post, "4 Ways to Get Students Moving in Class," by Angelina Murphy. I've used each one of these techniques with success.
- Four Corners
- Gallery Walk
- Silent Discussion Board (works especially well for introverts)
- Musical Discussions
As Murphy suggests, these four activities are simple, easy ways to awaken your class and increase engagement. Having students moving and talking not only builds important social and public speaking skills but also adds some fun to the learning environment that empowers and engages learners."
Let us know which idea resonates most with you and what other strategies you use to get students up and out of their seats.
Cheers, Susan FInn Miller
Moderator, Teaching & Learning CoP