Creating an engaging lesson starts by stepping out of the classrooom.
School’s CPD libraries are usually loaded with books about classroom management, lesson planning, and leadership. Although they contain valuable lessons, teachers should step out of the classroom and find inspiration elsewhere. In fact, words like planning, management, and leadership hint that there is more to education than education.
In the realm of personal growth, numerous books offer valuable insights and strategies that can be applied in an educational context. It is the case for Hooked, How Companies Create Habit-Forming Products.
The writer suggests a model that creates unprompted engagement so users repeatedly return to a product or service.
Understanding the principles of habit formation and behavioral psychology allows teachers to create an engaging and immersive learning environment that keeps students motivated and eager to participate.
Without further ado, here is how teachers can use the same model to create addictive lessons.
Step 1: Understanding Triggers and Prompts
One of the key concepts in “Hooked” is the importance of triggers in forming habits, as habits happen when a trigger brings about a behavior. A trigger is the actuator of behavior — the spark plug in the engine.
There are two types of triggers: external and internal.
Habit-forming lessons start by alerting users with external triggers. It could be a question, an image, or a sentence used as a starter or a prompt.
Consistency is key, so teachers should use triggers repeatedly. Each lesson should begin with a carefully crafted starter to provoke a specific behavior.
Example:
Maths lesson: Students enter the classroom and discover a problem displayed on the board. They sit down and solve it.
Language lesson: Students enter the classroom and discover three unfamiliar words on the board. They sit down, pick a dictionary from their desk, look for their meanings, and note it down.
English lesson: Students enter the classroom and discover an image on the board. They sit down, observe and write down three questions about the picture.
With these starters, students build the habit of getting into the work mood. As soon as they enter the classroom, their brain is solicited, and their attention goes to the subject while their friends settle down.
In addition, the nature of the task will encourage them to develop other habits and skills depending on the desired outcome.
Although consistency is key, variety is crucial, so changing the nature of the task once in a while (once a term) will keep the novelty effect without breaking the pace.
Step 2: Designing Interactive Learning Experiences
What makes platforms like TikTok, Facebook, or Instagram attractive and addictive?
Interaction.
One can like, be liked, share, reshare, comment, answer, and message a friend.
Interactive experiences maintain user engagement, which is also true in the classroom. Teachers should only be lecturers if they can put on a play. Otherwise, students should lead the class about 70% of the time.
Examples:
Hands-On Activities: This can include experiments, simulations, role-plays, or creating tangible projects. Students develop a deeper understanding and retain information more effectively by actively engaging with materials and concepts.
Group Discussions: Pose open-ended questions to promote critical thinking and allow students to express their thoughts. Encourage active listening, debate, and collaboration.
Multimedia Integration: Utilize multifarious forms of multimedia, like videos, images, and interactive presentations, to make the content engaging and relatable. Visual and auditory stimuli capture students’ attention and provide different learning modalities (this helps tick the differentiation box).
Gamification: Introduce game elements into the lesson design to make learning enjoyable and competitive. You can include quizzes, games, or interactive challenges. Gamification not only motivates students but also promotes healthy competition and rewards achievement.
Technology Integration: After the lockdown era, educational technology tools have developed so much that one cannot simply ignore them. Each subject has a goldmine of resources, apps, and online platforms that enhance interactivity. These tools allow students to actively participate, share ideas, and collaborate in real time, breaking the monotony of traditional instruction.
Real-World Connections: Students rightfully complain that they donät see the point of what they study in class. Relate the lesson content to real-world applications and scenarios. Engage students by discussing how the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom can be applied in practical situations. This helps students see the relevance and importance of the subject matter, making the learning experience engaging.
Role-Play and Simulations: Encourage students to step into different roles or simulate scenarios related to the lesson. It promotes active engagement, empathy, and critical thinking while students analyze situations, make decisions, and observe the consequences of their actions. Imagine revisiting the Battle of Waterloo as Napoleon. Would you have brought the canons into the mud?
Step 3: Applying Feedback Loops
Feedback loops are crucial in habit formation, and teachers can harness their power to foster continuous improvement and motivate students. Educators can guide students toward desired behaviors and outcomes by providing timely and constructive feedback. These feedbacks are the students’ reward and need some variability to keep their engagement. Incorporating peer assessment, self-assessment, and reflection opportunities reinforce the habit of active learning. Yet the best feedback is the one that bypasses them and goes straight to their parents. Occasionally, email the parents or send a short text to tell them how well their child has been working. Creating effective feedback loops will nurture engagement and promote personal growth and development.
Step 4: Encouraging Autonomy and Investment
The final aspect of the “Hooked” model involves fostering a sense of investment and autonomy in students.
Users on social media have their own accounts and input, creating a sense of ownership and desire to come back.
Teachers can create a similar feeling by allowing students to take ownership of their learning journey. It starts with empowering students to set goals, make choices, and explore their interests. This cultivates a habit of motivation and lifelong learning. Although teachers can explore these possibilities throughout the year, the summer is the perfect opportunity to work on group projects and give students more freedom and responsibility in their learning journey.
Takeaways
Although Hooked is addressed to companies and the creation of products, the same principles can be explored and implemented within the classroom. By employing triggers, designing interactive experiences, applying feedback loops, and encouraging autonomy, teachers can create an environment that fosters student engagement, participation, and a love for learning.
Using Hooked as guidelines, teachers can transform their classrooms into beautiful and practical spaces where students thrive and develop the habits necessary for lifelong learning, and this is what teaching is all about.
Looking for books to enrich your school’s CPD library? Check how “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” principles can level up your teaching game.
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