Stand Up for Learning
There they are – students – faces in their hands, some with their heads on the desks, eyes barely open. What is an instructor to do? The most exciting presentation skills, the newest PowerPoint transitions, even the turn-to-your-neighbor think-pair-share activities don’t seem to break this cycle of disengagement. Professors, instructors, teaching assistants, it is time we stand up for learning! In fact, don’t stop there – have your students stand up for learning!
This trick really is that easy – ask your students to stand up. It’s not a punishment or shame, it’s a learning technique. Break the pattern of sitting idly by, and have your students stand to interact. Dr. Jean Feldman, renowned in early childhood circles as an active learning guru, said this about children and adults alike: “You learn on your feet, not on your seat!”
She has a point. When we stand, we immediately increase our heart rate from the sitting position, which means the brain gets more oxygen, which means our minds are more ready to process information and think creatively. If you want to enhance the effect even more, have your students take a few steps. If they then have to count the steps, they are accessing a part of the brain that works mathematically, and are now using more of their brain than they were when they were sitting and listening to the lecture.
Here’s how this might look in a face-to-face Communication class as a planned activity.
Instructor: “Let’s think about this together. First, everyone stand up.” (Pause for students to stand) “Now, everyone take 11 steps in any direction and pause for more instructions.” (Pause for students to take steps) “Find two other people who are closest to you so you are in groups of three, then wait for the question.” (Pause for groups to form) Now, as a group see if you can recall the major group roles we discussed, then decide which ones you think you saw in our case study this morning.” (Pause for discussion) “Okay, now each group choose a reporter and tell me one role you saw demonstrated in the case study. This group first!”
In this example, the discussion was not limited to one or two students who happened to be paying attention. Everyone in the class was engaged in discussing the application question. Furthermore, everyone in the class was brought out of their comfortable, sleepy seats to interact with students in the class that were previously unaccessible. Yes, some students were annoyed they had to stand up and interact. They wanted to stay seated and sleepy, not engage in the learning. The wise instructor, however, would not allow such apathy. She took a stand for learning.
Takeaways:
You learn on your feet, not on your seat.
Stand up for learning by having students stand up.