Every teacher knows that boredom can be a pervasive and disruptive force within the classroom.
Students affected by boredom often exhibit characteristics that are all too familiar: sleeping, daydreaming, constant clock watching, or interrupting and disrupting others in the classroom. Not only does boredom hamper the learning process, but also affects student engagement and motivation. Despite these drawbacks, however, boredom is not always a bad thing. It can serve as a catalyst for creativity and self-discovery. Our responsibility as educators is to recognize what triggers boredom in our students, and then redirect that restless energy in a positive direction.
For the most part, boredom can be traced to three things: repetitive tasks, long talks, and disproportionally leveled challenges. When students are subjected to monotonous activities without variation or new challenges, they tend to disengage. The lack of stimulation and novelty in repeating the same task diminishes their learning experience. Similarly, information overload, coupled with a lack of interaction or practical application, can lead to decreased attention and engagement. Especially for younger students, the duration of talks can greatly influence their attention span.
Disproportionally leveled challenges are where student boredom frequently combines with student frustration. When tasks do not align with a student’s skill level, they can feel either underwhelmed or overwhelmed, leading to disengagement. While recognizing these symptoms in the classroom can be helpful, educators must understand that our response should not be to simply compensate. Correcting these mistakes will make boredom less common, but it won’t spark student engagement. Instead, our response should be to meet the need that is being presented before us and facilitate learning experiences which foster a sense of curiosity and play.
One easy method for accomplishing this is with project-based learning (PBL). PBL engages students in hands-on and purposeful real-world projects while nurturing a deeper connection to the content. This approach encourages critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration, while maintaining student interest and motivation. As a bonus, PBL can also be used to create tangible, positive change outside the classroom depending on the subject matter. Students can raise money for charity, create public service announcements on important issues, or simply share what they have learned with friends and family to promote healthier lifestyles.
Educators who prefer something less all-encompassing can use smaller strategies like transforming lectures into interactive scavenger hunts. This method can significantly boost engagement by reducing long talks and increasing student choice. It involves creating (or using an already made) handout with blanks and scattering resources like books, articles, and QR codes linked to digital resources around the classroom. Students actively engage in notetaking while exploring various resources, making the learning process more dynamic and enjoyable.
By addressing these boredom triggers and employing innovative strategies, teachers can transform their classrooms into vibrant learning environments. This not only combats boredom but also fosters a deeper, more meaningful engagement in the learning process.