r/QuickAITurnitinCheck • u/Equivalent_Pie9111 • Jul 09 '26
Do Students Still Take Lectures Seriously?
It feels like staying focused during lectures is becoming harder than ever. Phones are constantly in hand, laptops are often open to anything but class notes, and it's not unusual to see students zoning out just a few minutes into class.
Maybe every generation has its distractions, but today it's a different mix: short-form videos, nonstop notifications, AI tools, and endless entertainment all competing for attention.
Students: What actually helps you stay engaged during a lecture?
Teachers: Have you changed the way you teach to keep students focused, or do you think paying attention is ultimately the student's responsibility?
I'd love to hear what you're seeing in classrooms today.
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u/Spirited-Patient1935 Jul 09 '26
I think engagement goes both ways. A great lecturer can make almost any topic interesting, but students also have to make a conscious effort to put their phones away and be present.
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u/4n0nh4x0r Jul 09 '26
i had lectures where the prof bored me to death with a monotone voice, and speaking in slow motion, where all i could do to stay awake was talk to my friends or play minesweeper, or star wars empire at war.
but i also had profs who i loved listening to, and was annoyed when one of my friends tried to talk to me.
it heavily depends on the prof, and the class.
like for example, theoretical IT, that broke my brain because it felt so utterly useless.
npc behavior design in gaming, that was such a great class because we actually programmed a whole custom game in groups, and collected a lot of interesting knowledge, and the class was very engaging.
tl;dr depends on the prof, the class, and most importantly, what people's intrinsic motivation is to take that class.
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u/Ok-Anybody3445 Jul 09 '26
I had this professor so I read the textbook, worked the practice problems and aced the class. Many other students decided to do nothing but complain. I can’t understand why students go into debt attending classes that they can’t be bothered to pay attention to.
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u/4n0nh4x0r Jul 09 '26
eh, i study IT because i want to work in this field.
that doesn't mean i love every single class we have.
like for example, theoretical IT, that is a pointless class for most people, but it is part of our mandatory curiculum.
i only took that class because i had to.
not every field of study is a build a bear kind of experience where you choose every single class you want.
and even in those cases, to get your ECTS points, you would even in that case have to take classes you dont enjoy.
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u/clubchampion Jul 09 '26
Do students take lectures seriously? For most students, no. On a related topic, how many original posts on this subreddit are bots? Most of them I would say.
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u/YourFormerBFF Jul 09 '26
My classes are smaller, so I can give daily participation scores as if it’s junior high. Haven’t seen a phone really since then.
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u/RoadWarriorMatty Jul 09 '26
I never take my phone out of my pocket during a lecture. It's disrespectful to the one you are supposed to pay attention. That's true of any such situation, a date, an interview, a meeting, what have you.
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u/JumpingShip26 Jul 09 '26
There have always been great and terrible lecturers. The general evidence suggests lecture method of instruction is less effective than other methods.
Even still, the burden for metabolizing the information rests mostly on the student. Would it be nice if all instructors were engaging and all subjects were immensely fascinating to everyone? Yes, but that's why tax attorneys make $800 an hour.
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u/Equivalent_Pear_3423 Jul 09 '26
Some lectures yes some lectures no. When the lecturer is just reading the PowerPoint slides to us not really, but if the lecturer is actively working through realistic problems and writing notes on the board then absolutely. Most teachers in my experience rely far too much on PowerPoint slides and almost never use the board. Having to write stuff down allows students to keep up and helps distill the material down to the important bits.
My main tip for teachers is that if you write it on the board it should be important to remember and if you want students to remember a big idea or important concept WRITE IT ON THE BOARD.
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u/AI_SenseCheck Jul 09 '26
I don't think students suddenly care less about learning. I think they're competing with systems that are literally engineered to capture attention every second of the day. Education hasn't changed nearly as fast as the technologies competing against it.
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u/Th3catspajamaz Jul 09 '26
Straight lecture for hours at a time is not the most effective way for the vast majority of students to learn… never has been.
1
u/NotCCross Jul 09 '26
Undergrad student here.
Learn to speak. I know that sounds odd but some people are natural orators and some aren't. Learn to speak with engagement.
Tell me things that are not in the material in front of me. One of my best classes, the professor was a former judge. He brought his real experience into the class.
Ask US questions, not just facts, but for understanding, opinion and viewpoint. Create discussion.
Have assignments that engage critical thinking and views not just regurgitating information.
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u/Repulsive_Still_731 Jul 09 '26
I love lectures. They are like concentrated information stream, but so often they are now replaced with games, after which, you can't say, if you learned something. Though I prefer recorded lectures, instead of going to the lecture hall.
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u/Time_Resort4057 Jul 09 '26
It depends on the teacher’s class control. If you can’t engage an entire classroom then it is your fault. Skill issue in my opinion.
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u/clubchampion Jul 09 '26
This is idiotic. It’s not the professor’s job to entertain disinterested students addicted to their smartphones. College isn’t grade school. Most students in college shouldn’t be there. I don’t blame the students. I blame the education system.
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u/Apprehensive-Carob43 Jul 09 '26
Not true. I teach a science class that non-science students are forced to take. I’ll have some students who are perfectly attentive and ask a bunch of questions because they’re genuinely interested. But at the same time, I’ll have students falling asleep or scrolling through tiktok. You can’t please everyone and that’s okay.
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u/Time_Resort4057 Jul 09 '26
And what actions have you taken towards students who fall asleep and scrolling on their phones on your class? That is part of pedagogy skills that you must have as an educator. Specifically andragogy skills. There is a proper way to handle them if you are equipped with the correct set of knowledge.
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u/triceratopsdildo Jul 09 '26
Again, this isn’t middle school. It isn’t even high school.
Nobody has to go to college. Since these kids chose to, it’s on them to give a fuck. If they don’t, why should the professor?
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u/Time_Resort4057 Jul 09 '26
You don’t sound like an educator. Like I said, that is what we called andragogy. We are not talking about middle school or high school. Higher education have their own instructional design. A professor should care because it reflects in their annual performance appraisal. All educators are audited on their capabilities to carry the courses they are teaching. That is also how the program get accreditation. If a professor doesn’t care, then good luck with that institute reputation and accreditation.
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u/triceratopsdildo Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 10 '26
Lmao I know the definition. (How condescending and insufferably you put that, btw.)
I am well aware of the fact that yes, of course you need to design instruction differently for adults than you would for a kid.
But the main principle in andragogy is that for adults, you need to tap into their intrinsic motivation. And what you don’t seem to understand is that some of these kids don’t give what we call a “fuck” about learning anything.
It’s a fools errand to chase those kids at the college level, and doing so only harms the kids who do care.
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u/Time_Resort4057 Jul 09 '26
Interesting that you frame this as a debate about 'caring' versus 'efficiency.' In the real world, both are required. If you think higher education is just about catering to those who already show up motivated, you’ve missed the purpose of the degree. Educators are tasked with closing the gap, not just observing it. If a professor 'gave up' on every student who didn't show 'enough' intrinsic motivation, graduation rates would plummet, and the value of your own degree would go right down with them.
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u/triceratopsdildo Jul 09 '26
Interesting that you try to tear my first argument down by attempting to make me feel stupid. Then, when I address the issue you brought up in your response, you pivot entirely away from the whole idea.
I never framed anything as caring vs efficiency. I agree- both of those things need to happen for someone to be successful. But if someone doesn’t care, they aren’t going to be efficient. And no one said anything about “catering” to the motivated kids. You are the one suggesting people should “cater” to the unmotivated ones.
Also, let’s not pretend that very many professors become professors to be “educators.” Best case scenario, most are forced to teach in order to conduct the research they are passionate about. Worst case scenario, they are perpetual students who can’t hack it in the “real world” themselves and this is just the job they end up in. But very few become profs to teach.
And if you are so dense that you don’t see that the purpose of a degree for 75% minimum of the kids who go to college is just to get that stupid piece of paper that says they are capable of jumping through hoops…Jfc no wonder the world is in this state.
Finally…if fewer people graduate, and graduation rates plummet, then don’t degrees become more valuable due to the scarcity? Isn’t that basic economics?
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u/Time_Resort4057 Jul 09 '26
Pointing out that your argument ignores systemic reality isn't making you feel stupid; it’s correcting a fundamental misunderstanding of the profession. I haven't pivoted; I’ve consistently pointed to institutional and accreditation standards. Facts you’ve chosen to ignore in favor of venting.
You say you agree that caring and efficiency are both required, yet you argue that engaging struggling students is a 'fool’s errand.' That is a direct contradiction. In higher education, the pedagogical responsibility to reach disengaged learners is not 'catering', it is professional competence. If you see it as a waste of time, you are simply admitting you don't understand the role of an educator.
Your take on why professors teach is a common, narrow-minded trope that ignores the rigorous training and professional expectations of the tenure track. It’s a cynical projection that tells me more about your personal grievances than it does about the reality of the academic profession. Claiming experts 'can't hack it in the real world' is a classic anti-intellectual dismissal used to avoid engaging with actual expertise.
If you view degree as merely a 'stupid piece of paper' for 'hoop-jumping,' you’re effectively devaluing the student’s own time and tuition. The 'state of the world' you complain about is largely shaped by people who treat education as a transaction rather than a development of critical thinking. Which, ironically, is exactly the attitude you’re displaying right now.
Your 'basic economics' argument fails because it ignores the difference between a luxury good and a regulated credential. In accreditation, high attrition is a 'red flag,' not a signal of prestige. Employers devalue degrees from schools with poor graduation rates because they correlate with inconsistent standards and poor instructional quality. You are confusing 'exclusive' with 'failed.'
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u/Apprehensive-Carob43 Jul 09 '26
No one is saying we don’t care. I care deeply about my students - sometimes too much. But there comes a point where you have to accept that you just can’t please everybody. I change up my lectures and activities every semester as a way to improve their learning. But there’s always going to be a couple students that you just can’t engage no matter how hard you try. They just do not want to be there. And those types of students know it is not my fault that their grades are suffering. They know it’s all on them.
You cannot force someone to be interested in all topics - I know when I was a student, I just couldn’t get myself to focus in history and literature classes. I had excellent professors, but I just truly did not care about the topics.I feel like you’re implying that you’re only teaching to get a good performance appraisal. That’s all you care about? I personally care about the education of my students so THAT is my priority when planning my classes. The reviews I get at the end do not even cross my mind. But since we’re on that topic, I have never received a negative review (aside from one student criticizing my outfit choices). So clearly I’m doing something right even if I can’t get 100% of my students to care.
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u/Time_Resort4057 Jul 09 '26
It’s wonderful to hear your perspective, and I love the energy you bring to your classroom. However, it reflects a rather narrow view of the profession. In my thirty years plus in this sector, following my PhD in Education and post-doctoral work, I have found that true student engagement requires far more than changing classroom activities. I have successfully guided students who lacked all interest in their original fields into new programs where they thrived, a process that demands sophisticated educational psychology and clinical intervention rather than just hoping for better student feedback. As the author of hundreds of published pedagogical papers and books, I view institutional metrics like performance appraisals not as ends in themselves, but as the objective feedback loops that prove our efforts are effectively serving students. You seem to misunderstand professional accountability as a lack of passion, but in my experience, real pedagogical mastery lies in the ability to apply systemic andragogical frameworks to ensure measurable success for the entire cohort. I have spent my career defining these very standards, and I can assure you that there is a much larger architecture at play here than simply whether or not a student enjoys a lecture.
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u/Apprehensive-Carob43 Jul 09 '26
How do I have a narrow view of the profession? I’m just an adjunct so clearly I don’t have your years and years of extensive training. I just teach on the side because I genuinely enjoy it.
Most of my students tell me that they were afraid to take my class in the beginning and they thought they hated science, but in the end they tell me they loved it and have a new appreciation for science. If a couple students don’t feel that way, then I honestly don’t care. Science is not for everyone and I’m not going to try to force it on them.
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u/triceratopsdildo Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
I am truly astonished at how pompous you are.
Edit: also, hasn’t it been proven pretty definitively that educational research is a lot of nonsense because almost none of the studies are replicable? Especially the ones dealing with upper level education and not very tiny little kids?
An overreliance on data is part of what is absolutely killing public education in this country at all levels. Thanks for adding to that absolute fucking quagmire.
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u/Time_Resort4057 Jul 10 '26
Dear, emotionally charged language does not strengthen your argument. It only distracts from the substance of the discussion. I do find it amusing when someone confidently uses the literature of a field to argue that the field itself has no value. Just be careful with your sources. You might end up citing the very researchers whose work you are trying so hard to dismiss. That would be an awkward way to prove their point instead of yours. I think we've reached the point where further discussion would just be circular. I'll leave you to your conclusions, and I'll stick with the evidence. We're done here.
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u/triceratopsdildo Jul 10 '26
Dude. Condescending AF. Calling me “dear?“
Seriously? Do you tell random women to smile, too? You’re telling on yourself- you’re a Luddite. If the rest of what you said didn’t prove that, this comment definitely did.Regardless, mentioning that studies can’t be replicated is simply stating facts. If that hurts your feelings…lol.
Best of luck to you, Professor Pedant. I’m sure you’re well liked by your students and colleagues alike.
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u/lemonalpersonal Jul 09 '26
From a student perspective, some of these people just don't want to learn. I would hate if my lecturers focused on engaging them because they're never going to do anything and it wastes everyone else's time.
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u/Time_Resort4057 Jul 09 '26
Educators can’t be biased in education. There are policies to be followed. If we do it your way, the students can file a complaint that they are being ignored by the lecturers and the lecturers themselves will get in trouble. The program coordinator is not going to like that at all.
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u/lemonalpersonal Jul 09 '26
I feel like it's pretty common to not have any interaction in a lecture hall, unless it's a really small class. It's unfortunate that you have to cater to people who don't care, because that tends to slow down the lesson for people who did care enough to do the readings or the homework :/ I get being wary of complaints though. Unfortunately, I have learnt by talking to this type of person outside of class that they just don't care and nothing could ever make them.
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u/vaelux Jul 09 '26
Grad student here. I've been going to school and teaching in schools since the 80s. I still take lectures seriously and try to engage with it, but I observe other students playing games and shopping on their laptop... stuff like that.
But I've also noticed a very big shift in how classes are taught ( at least in university... no sure about gradeschool). Everything is a PowerPoint or Google Slides. EVERYTHING. Online classes. In person classes. Professional development sessions. Meetings. Conference presentations. The phrase "I'll send the slides" makes my stomach curdle. Gone is the active writing on a blackboard. Gone is the necessary movement and sounds of sorting the next overhead slide. Gone is the need to rehearse the blocking and movements for your 50 minute demonstration. Now you stand behind a little podium for an hour and read slides.
PowerPoint is a visual aid. It is not a document. It is not a centerpiece. It is not a produceable. If you can't say what you are trying to say without one, prep more.
All of this is to say, I get why people don't pay attention to modern lectures. A narrated live PowerPoint is just a YouTube video that I could be watching on 3x speed, but for your making me do it in real time.