This document discusses techniques for gaining and maintaining student attention in the classroom. It identifies considerations for selecting attention-getting devices, such as the purpose of the lesson, topic, occasion, and audience. Examples of attention-getting devices are referencing the subject matter, quoting others, using startling statements, asking questions, employing humor, making personal references, and referencing the occasion. The document cautions that warm-up techniques and background information should be used carefully and to avoid long introductions. The overall goal is to understand and effectively select instructional elements to purposefully engage student attention.

1. 26 June 2014
Mark Hanson, ISD, OE
INSTRUCTOR ENCHANCEMENT SERIES
Teaching Techniques
“Am I Getting Your
Attention?”
Effective Part IIs: The “ATTENTION”

2. “BE CAREFULS”
GOAL/CONCEPT:
UNDERSTAND & EFFECTIVELY SELECT AND USE
INSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS TO PURPOSEFULLY
GAIN “ATTENTION” IN THE CLASSROOM.
DEVICESCONSIDERATIONS

3. GOAL/CONCEPT:
Appropriateness or
Relevance
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN
CHOOSING AN ATTENTION-GETTING
DEVICE FOR YOUR LESSON:
CONSIDERATIONS
4
Purpose of Lesson
Topic Occasion

4. CONSIDERATIONS
Reference to Subject
DEVICES
“Why we’re here and why it’s
important.”
MOST DIRECT
LEAST INTERESTING

5. CONSIDERATIONS
Reference to Audience
DEVICES
“From one professional to
another…..”
COMMON GROUND
SHARED STATUS

6. CONSIDERATIONS
Reference to Audience
DEVICES
“From one professional to
another…..”
COMMON GROUND
SHARED STATUS

7. CONSIDERATIONS
Quotation
DEVICES
“Someone else’s words to relate
to your topic.”
“Bartlett’s Familiar
Quotes”
www.bartlett.com/100

8. CONSIDERATIONS
Quotation
DEVICES
“Bartlett’s Familiar
Quotes”
“www.bartley.com/100
“Get going. Move forward. Aim high. Plan a takeoff.
Don’t sit on the runway and hope someone will come
along and push the airplane. It simply won’t happen.
Change your attitude and gain some altitude.
Believe me, you’ll love it up here.”

9. CONSIDERATIONSDEVICES
“This is effecting us
NOW.”
Reference to
Current Events

10. CONSIDERATIONSDEVICES
“Evoking memories and
perspective.”
Historical Reference

11. CONSIDERATIONSDEVICES
Real story that
emphasizes message
Anecdote
-Parable or fable-
“Connection needs
to be clear”

12. CONSIDERATIONSDEVICES
Often a statistic or
strange fact
Startling Statement

13. CONSIDERATIONSDEVICES
Mark Hanson
“Chemical Hazards”
Startling Statement
BAD

14. CONSIDERATIONSDEVICES
3,787
instant deaths
Startling Statement
BETTER

15. CONSIDERATIONSDEVICES
Doesn’t need
to be negative
Startling Statement

16. CONSIDERATIONSDEVICES
Question
Response Rhetorical
PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT

17. CONSIDERATIONSDEVICES
Must be non-offensive in nature
Humor
Shouldn’t have to “leap” to topic
AMAZING WHEN
USED PROPERLY

18. CONSIDERATIONSDEVICES
Some of the best speeches
come from personal knowledge
and experience.
Personal Reference
CREDIBILITY

19. CONSIDERATIONSDEVICES
“We’re here today to
talk about BE.”
Reference to Occasion
LEAST
LIKELY TO
BE USED

20. “Let me tell you
about myself”
THINGS TO “USE WITH CARE”3
Warm-up
Techniques
Background
AVOIDANCES
Remember
the
15 second
rule

21. GOAL/CONCEPT:
CONSIDERATIONS DEVICES “BE CAREFULS”
UNDERSTAND & EFFECTIVELY SELECT AND USE
INSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS TO PURPOSEFULLY
GAIN “ATTENTION” IN THE CLASSROOM.

22. 26 June 2014
Mark Hanson, ISD, OE
INSTRUCTOR ENCHANCEMENT SERIES
Teaching Techniques
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