Finding a balance
l Make it relevant – In a 2007 article titled The Neuroscience of Joyful Education, neurologist Dr Judy Willis wrote that the relevancy of lessons affects the interest of the students.
“When stress in the classroom is high, it is often because a lesson is overly abstract or seems irrelevant to students. Teachers can reduce this type of stress by making the lesson more personally interesting and motivating. Ideally, students should be able to answer the question, ‘Why are we learning about this?’ at any point in a lesson.”
l Use a different medium of learning – When classroom lessons become routine, it can be easy to lose focus in class. Teachers must remember that learning needs not only come from a set syllabus.
For example, Alliance Bank Malaysia’s recent AEIOU Financial Comic Strip Challenge provided a fun and creative way for primary school students to display their artistic prowess while learning about financial literacy.
l Go old school – According to Brian Gatens in his 2016 article Let the Children Play: Why Adding Fun to the Classroom Helps Kids Learn, traditional board games have a lot to offer in a child’s learning experience.
“The thinking and learning needed for good strategy, following rules and being a good loser (and winner) are just a few of the positive takeaways. It is good for students to win and lose from time to time, and the low social impact of losing a board game is a good lesson.
“Beyond these games, students should learn to play checkers and chess as well as more complex games such as Risk and Settlers of Catan. Mental acuity honed while having fun will be of tremendous help to your work.”
l Active participation – GEMS International School Tropicana Metropark principal Craig Lewis says that students are more engaged when given the chance to choose what they want to learn.
“Ask the children which specific element they want to learn and pursue a corresponding topic. It makes them more engaged as they are participating in outcomes of their own learning. It also adds enjoyment to their learning as they are learning about something they are interested in.”
l Create a haven – It is known that people under stress do not perform tasks well. Dr Willis says that the best environment for a student is when a classroom provides emotional comfort, pleasure and knowledge.
“When teachers use strategies to reduce stress and build a positive emotional environment, students gain emotional resilience and learn more efficiently and at higher levels of cognition.”
l Set goals – elc International School curriculum director Chris Patterson sums up methods to engage students in their lessons for optimal absorption of lessons.
“Broadly, it is to encourage students to believe in something greater than their own fleeting pleasure. They have to imagine their future selves and have readily achievable short-term goals as well as longer-term stretch goals.”
With this, even if a class is supposed to be serious and less fun, students have a goal to work towards at all times, helping them develop motivation and interest in their studies.