You are standing in front of the room ready to deliver what you know is the most boring class you could ever imagine. You know that within the first hour everyone is going to be asleep or checking their phones.
There has to be a better way? Right.
You know the class could use a redesign, but you’ve been directed to present this information in this way. What a nightmare.
Don’t despair. There is one simple thing you can do that might just keep your class awake and make the boring slightly less so. And the bonus — it’s free too!
In the absence of creating a different class with less lecture and fewer bullet points, there is one simple thing you can do. Think in ten minute increments. Yes, ten minutes.
Lecture for ten minutes.* Stop. Do it again.
But don’t just stop. In those stops ask your learner to do something. You might ask learners to:
- Write down two things they recall.
- Turn to their neighbor and share one thing that was helpful.
- Write an important point to remember on a Post-It Note.
- Visualize how they will use the information.
- Stand and stretch.
The simple act of taking a mini-break from your content will reengage your learner, help them to focus, and get their attention when you return. These mini-breaks scheduled every ten minutes do not need to be long or involved.
Mini-breaks are intended to help switch the brain’s focus so that it can more effectively refocus. Our brains love what is new and unexpected, so the more we are able to work with our natural tendencies, the more you will engage your learners.
Do you pay attention to your time in ten minutes increments? What methods have worked for you? Share in the comments below.
*And if you can convince your manager that lecture isn’t the way, your learners will be even happier. Read this for a few ideas to share with your manager.
