Motivate the Unmotivated: A step-by-step system you can use to raise motivation in your classroom tomorrow by Plevin Rob

Author:Plevin, Rob [Plevin, Rob]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Life Raft Media Ltd
Published: 2017-09-07T00:00:00+00:00

Strategies to Satisfy the Need for Fun

Fun Strategy #1:

Create Intrigue

By creating some intrigue we can often win round students who have preconceived notions that the lesson won’t interest them; we invite attention rather than demanding it. Intrigue can be created simply by making any change to the norm, as these examples show:

• changes to the physical environment (room layout, the seating, the lighting);

• changes to the type of lesson tasks on offer or the way information is usually delivered;

• visitors/outside speakers, who can give students a (welcome) break from your boring old voice ;

• equipment or demonstrations set up before students enter (The more dramatic the better);

• changes to your own appearance or delivery style (here’s your chance to get your fancy dress kit out of the cupboard!)

Here are two more ways of creating intrigue in lessons:

• Intrigue idea #1: Use Props

Tangible props are a ‘never-fail’ attention grabber, particularly when they are abstract or novel and are presented in a creative way such as the example below (mystery bag). They can also be used to amuse and entertain, keep the mood upbeat and break the monotony of teacher-talk and demonstrations (think Elvis wig or clown’s nose). Additionally, they can be used as an aid to learning to make explanations easier to understand, focus attention and demonstrate abstract concepts in a visual and concrete way.

One of the most interesting props I’ve ever had the privilege to use in a lesson was a genuine relic from the Titanic. No, not Kate Winslet - but a broken pocket watch belonging to a young bellboy on one of the first class lifts, before he tragically drowned.

My students had been working on their research project for a few weeks and were fascinated by the whole Titanic story. To see this piece of living history up close, after previously only having access to pictures, videos and reference books and that awful drone by Celine Dion, was simply amazing for them. They had already discovered the exact time the ship was documented as taking her final plunge - 2:20am – and had filled this time in as the last entry on their time lines. When they saw that the watch had actually stopped at precisely 2:20am, they were, understandably, completely spellbound. It was a tremendous example of how powerful props can be, and a great ice breaker for getting the lesson going.

Obviously this was a one-off. The chances of getting your hands on priceless relics are slim and any efforts to procure them from your local museum may not be viewed favourably. I was lucky as a friend of mine knew the lady who owned the watch (and several other artifacts). She had never shown them to anyone outside her home up to that point but was thrilled to be able to enhance the children’s education by coming in to school to display them. I was lucky indeed, but we all have friends and relatives and you never know, it’s possible that one of them has, or knows someone who has, a suitable prop for your next lesson.

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