It’s 1:32 P.M., and the large hand on the clock ticks at a staid rate. Your leg simultaneously bounces, and your heel touches the floor with every passing second. Most students have been in a position where they felt as if school was the most monotonous task during their day. You can feel each second add weight to your mind as you wait for the next bell to dismiss you. There are many ways to prevent boredom for students of all ages. One of the most beneficial ways to have students learn and maintain entertainment is through interactive learning. The Oxford Dictionary defines interactive learning as “learning that encourages independent study.” For example, in my AP Government class, we did a mock Congress. This helped me understand the process of getting a bill passed. Instead of listening to a teacher explain how a bill gets passed, I got to create my bill and converse with my peers on other students’ bills. Another example would be during chemistry class, when labs are performed. As students in chemistry, we are exposed to and allowed to work with chemicals and form reactions on our own to learn about the properties of each chemical or reaction. This is very informal because it is easier to understand something as you are actively participating in it rather than passively listening to a teacher explain it. Breanna Thompson, a senior here at BHS, stated, “I didn’t enjoy chemistry work very much, but the one thing I always looked forward to in the class was doing a lab. Labs honestly were so fun, I forgot it was chemistry class.” Halina Nguyen, a junior here at BHS, stated, “Mock congress helped me for the test because I got to experience the bill-making process myself rather than listening to someone else explain it.” Overall, when a class is more engaging and interactive, students are more likely to participate and fully understand the topic. If we included more interactive activities here within BHS and shied away from using technology, in my opinion, students would enjoy school more, as well as learn more.
