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In a world where hand-held technologies dominate our daily lives, it can be a real challenge engaging students in the classroom. Today, the probability of a typical learner having a laptop, tablet, iPad, or smartphone in a lecture hall is pretty high. For example, in one lecture, a student might be listening to a podcast, playing a game online, streaming on social media, or following a developing story on a news app.
Traditional teaching methods have increasingly become ineffective in capturing such students’ attention. As a result, educators are forced to explore other techniques of improving classroom participation. The result has been the creation and adoption of myriads of exercises and techniques for enhancing engagement. In this short article, we’ll explore 7 fun and effective classroom exercises for students to improve participation and performance.
The Benefits of Incorporating Active Learning Activities in the Classroom
Before delving further into the issue, it’s critical to understand the real benefits of classroom exercises for college students. Below are some key advantages:
Improved retention
Teaching should be about helping students master concepts, remembering them, and applying them in their lives. But for this to happen, it’s critical for learners to retain the basic information. Numerous studies have linked active learning with increased info retention. When educators rely on hands-on activities, discussions, and problem-solving exercises, they stimulate their students to use multiple faculties, i.e., smell, vision, touch, etc., making it easier for them to remember the lessons.
Collaboration
Teamwork is vital in all facets of life. Active learning activities bring students together through group work and discussions. These collaborative avenues help them to develop stronger bonds, understand each other, and synchronize their inputs to a greater good. When students work together, they learn to express their feelings, articulate their thoughts, listen actively, and work effectively with others. Together, these small outcomes can have a compounding effect, improving the overall class performance.
Personalization
A “one fits all” approach to education has several drawbacks. For instance, some studies have pointed out that it doesn’t exploit individual strengths. Teachers who adopt active learning can bypass this challenge by allowing their students to explore topics and subjects of their own interest at their own pace. The method also allows educators to use different induction styles on different learners, with better outcomes.
Real-world application
No matter how long you take in the classroom, you’ll always get back to the real world and face real issues. This explains why practicality is vital. When you learn through examples and demonstrations, you bridge the gap between knowledge and application. As a student, you need to have a solid link between what is taught in the classroom and how it can be used in everyday life.
Lively classroom atmosphere
Have you ever been to a dull lecturer hall? Some classrooms can be so boring than funeral processions. Only teachers who know how to use classroom exercises can turn around such uninviting atmospheres. Incorporating collaborative and engaging tasks can make the situation livelier, allowing students to ask questions and share ideas. Ultimately, this can lead to a dynamic and interactive environment that promotes positive teacher-student relationships.
The Link Between Classroom Exercises for College Students and Academic Performance
The factors we’ve explored above all link back to improved academic performance. For instance, a lively classroom atmosphere makes students more willing to learn, thereby improving their chances of performing well. A personalized approach to education gives each learner a fair chance of succeeding because it optimizes their strengths and minimizes the impacts of their weaknesses. Collaboration, on the other hand, allows slow students to learn from their peers, improving their chances of mastering the subjects. And we don’t need to say much about improved retention. Each of the benefits circle back to students’ academic performance.
7 Best Classroom Exercises for Students
At this point, we assume we all agree that active learning is beneficial to students, teachers, and other education stakeholders. But which classroom exercise have you used or experienced? Below, we list some of the most impactful ones for your review:
1- Creative writing
This involves writing compelling stories, poems, or essays that are purely imaginative. Teachers can instruct their students to create anything that can evoke emotions and ignite imagination, then share them with the other learners. Such writings can spark debates and active and meaningful engagement in the classroom. But not every student is a great storyteller. So, if you’re struggling with such an academic writing exercise, you can seek professional help online and find an essay writer for hire. Reputable companies such as CustomWritings are always on standby to help you write compelling and intriguing stories.
2- Role-playing
You can also encourage your students to simulate real-life scenarios, e.g., completing a task or acting a job, say being a firefighter, teacher, or a waste management specialist. These tasks are likely to break the tension in the classroom, allowing learners to be more expressive. The practical nature of this approach makes learning both exciting and engaging.
3- Games and quizzes
We all know how the current generation is hooked to video games. Smart teachers know that interactive games can significantly improve the classroom atmosphere. So, why not include them among the other activities for students? The best idea is to use games and quizzes that are curriculum-approved. That way, your students will have fun while covering the syllabus simultaneously.
4- Hands-on experiments
Experiments can truly liven a classroom. Simple exercises like investigating the effect of different fertilizers on plant growth, determining the relationship between exercise and heart rate, or testing the efficiency of different insulating materials can excite your students and make them feel ingenious. No matter how tight your learning space is, incorporate some demonstrations to get your learners in the groove.
5- Debates
Debating skills are vital in the present world. Apart from defending your interests, there will always be a time to stand up for the oppressed and the victimized. For others, especially those in politics, the skills will help you attract and retain votes. The best place to hone your debating skills is in the classroom. Teachers can organize students in groups and assign them a position to defend in a discussion session. Such debates can get heated, especially when a controversial topic is involved.
6- Brainstorming
Brainstorming can be done at an individual or group level. However, the best approach for a classroom is a collective one. Get everyone together and ask them to propose solutions to a problem. Let each one give as many suggestions as possible. Of course, there will be stupid, inaccurate, and silly responses. These might make other students laugh, chuckle, giggle, or be playful. Let all that be part of the group brainstorming process. That’s where the fun is.
7- Physical activities
Sometimes jumping around is better than sitting down and reading. Find the right balance and you’ll be on your way to success. A simple physical activity like squatting can work wonders.
An Active Classroom is Guaranteed Academic Performance!
As discussed above, the benefits of classroom exercises for students can’t be overstated. An active lecture hall is the cheat code against technology use during lessons. Moreover, it enhances student engagement, collaboration, and creativity. Studies have successfully linked these outcomes to improved academic performance. Therefore, by making your classrooms lively and students engaged, you’ll achieve your ultimate dream of helping them succeed.
