Things to Do When Bored in Class is the topic of our post today!
As teachers, we are no strangers to those occasional wandering gazes or stifled yawns emanating from the back of the classroom. While we might hope every moment in class is filled with fascination and intellectual discovery, the reality is that there are bound to be periods that feel less engaging. This is particularly true for students who each carry a unique learning style, pace, and set of interests.
Yet, even in these moments of monotony, opportunity still looms around. In fact, moments of boredom can be catalyst for our creativity, resourcefulness, and even self-directed learning. Think back to your school days, do you remember those dreary afternoons during which the hands of the clock seemed to stand still? I bet you wish you had a toolbox full of strategies to help navigate that boredom creatively, right? Well, that’s exactly what I’m here to provide for today’s learners!
In this blog post, I’ll explore a list of things students can do when they find themselves bored in class. Each suggestion is designed to make the most of these less-than-thrilling moments while respecting the classroom environment and learning process.
20 Things to Do When Bored in Class
Check out these suggestions for things to do when bored:
1. Take Active Notes
Actively participating in the class by taking notes can help maintain focus and make the class more interesting. Try different note-taking techniques like the Cornell method, concept mapping, or making a summary to find what works best for you.
2. Ask Questions
If you’re feeling bored or if the lesson seems too complex, try asking a question. Engaging with the teacher and your classmates through discussion can make the lesson more interesting and relatable.
3. Make Connections
Try to connect what’s being taught with something you’re interested in. This can make the topic more engaging and relevant.
4. Brainstorm Applications
Try to think of how the information being taught can be applied in real-world situations. This can help make the lesson more relevant and interesting.
5. Use Your Imagination
If the lesson is particularly dry, use your imagination to make it more interesting. This could mean creating a story around the information, visualizing concepts, or thinking about how you would teach the subject to someone else.
6. Mindful Listening
Practice mindfulness by focusing on the teacher’s words and your surroundings. This can help keep your mind from wandering and make you more present in the class.
7. Challenge Yourself
Set small goals for each class to maintain your interest. This could be mastering a certain concept, asking a question, or making a certain number of notes.
8. Practice Doodling
If allowed, doodling can help you concentrate and make the class more enjoyable. Just be sure it doesn’t distract you from the lesson.
9. Take Breaks
If possible, stand and stretch or take a short walk outside the classroom when you’re feeling particularly uninterested. Physical movement can refresh your mind and help you refocus.
10. Practice Gratitude
Remember that not everyone has the opportunity to get an education. Practicing gratitude can help you appreciate your classes and make them more engaging.
11. Translate Lessons Into Art
If you’re artistically inclined, think of how you can express key points of the lesson through drawings or doodles. This creative thinking can keep your mind engaged while enhancing your understanding.
12. Interactive Learning Tools
Use interactive learning tools or educational apps on your device, if allowed. These tools can make learning more enjoyable and are designed to keep students engaged.
13. Set Personal Goals
Think about your personal and academic goals and how the current lesson relates to them. This can make the class more relevant and motivating.
14. Form a Study Group
Interacting with your classmates and discussing the lesson can make the class more engaging. Plus, teaching someone else is a great way to reinforce your own understanding.
15. Play Word Games
If the lecture is particularly dull, try to see how many words you can make out of a complex term from the lesson, or try to relate a concept to each letter of the alphabet.
16. Relate Lessons to Current Events
Try to connect the topic being taught with current news or events. This can make the subject matter more relevant and interesting.
17. Use Memory Techniques
Employ techniques like the memory palace or mnemonic devices to remember and understand the information. These methods can make the learning process more fun and effective.
18. Think Critically
Don’t just passively receive information. Think critically about it. Do you agree or disagree with it? Why?
19. Link Lessons to Your Favorite Books/Movies
Try to find connections between the lesson and your favorite books or movies. This can make the lesson more interesting and relatable.
20. Visualize Your Future
Consider how the skills and knowledge from the class might benefit you in your future career or personal life. This can make the class feel more important and stimulating.
Final thoughts
To conclude, let me remind you, fellow teachers and educators, that moments of disinterest and boredom are not to be feared, but to be embraced as opportunities for growth and innovation. It’s in these quiet spaces of the mind that we can kindle our creativity, reinforce our knowledge, and discover unique ways to engage with the material.
The strategies we’ve explored together are much more than just boredom-busters, they’re stepping stones towards becoming proactive learners, capable of turning every moment into a valuable learning experience. However, let’s not forget that our main goal in class is to learn, and if boredom persists, it might be time to discuss this with your teacher or counselor.
Education is a journey, with its peaks of excitement and valleys of boredom. How we navigate through these valleys and what we choose to do in these moments can define our learning experience.
