Don’t teach a restless class; steer it
An educator discusses how to transform student restlessness into a pedagogical tool by encouraging active participation and critical questioning. The piece highlights the importance of engaging students through contemporary debates rather than passive listening.
Why it matters
Modern teaching methods must adapt to the changing attention spans and intellectual needs of students in higher education.
A s an educator who teaches the first class of the day, I am often entrusted with what many teachers consider a daunting task: keeping a 7:00 am classroom awake and engaged. My students are largely pursuing professional qualifications in Commerce and Business Management, and many view subjects outside their immediate career goals as peripheral. Whether this disposition is a product of the times or simply a characteristic of youth is a question for another day. What I have learnt, however, is that the theory of restlessness we often lament in our classrooms can become a powerful pedagogical resource.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in