Let's face it – it's impossible to pay attention in class 100% of the time. Some days you're just too tired, or too bored, or too distracted. Even the best students find their minds wandering now and then. Unfortunately, professors don't take too kindly to students not paying attention – in fact, that's kind of a professor pet peeve. And you really can't blame them. How would you like it if you were speaking to a group of people and some of them were clearly tuned out?
So here's the trick: pretend like you're paying attention. This isn't easy, but it's a skill you can practice – and one that will come in handy in the working world too, when you're pretending to pay attention at a meeting! Here are some tips to help you act like you're paying attention.
Nonverbal Cues: Good Posture, Nodding, Eye Contact
Your mind may be wandering somewhere else, but if your body looks like it's present, then you just might look like you're listening. Sit up straight in your seat, and lean forward just a little bit. Practice good posture. Cross your legs slightly or place them comfortable in front on you on the ground. Avoid playing with your hands or hair.
You can also send nonverbal cues with your face. Nodding is an important nonverbal cue, especially when the professor glances over your way. As a speaker, it's affirming to see people that you're speaking to nod now and then, so do it. Eye contact is important too. There's no need to maintain constant eye contact with your professor – which is hard to do even if you are paying attention – so glance periodically at the professor when he or she is looking your way. A quick smile can't hurt either. And if there's something you're supposed to be looking at, like PowerPoint slides, keep your eyes in that direction.
Take "Notes"
Taking good notes is an important skill (and for when you feel like actually paying attention, here are some tips for how to take effective class notes.) You can't actually take notes if you're not paying attention, but this is nonetheless a good way to look like you're tuning in. Pay attention to what everyone else is going. When they write, you write. And who knows: you might actually write down something useful. Meanwhile, you can doodle away.
Taking notes on your laptop is effective too, especially because you can do other things on your laptop that look like taking notes. Be careful, though. Don't get so caught up in Facebook or email that it's clear that you're doing something other than copying the PowerPoint slides.
Avoid Obvious Student Distractions
Most professors can forgive a little daydreaming. But if you really want to avoid getting on your professor's bad side, don't even think about texting, Sudoku, doing homework for other classes, reading the school paper, or engaging in other popular student distractions. One behavior you definitely want to avoid: talking to other students. This is distracting to everyone, and there's no faster way to make a professor mad.
So can you text at your desk without your professor noticing? Maybe. But this is harder than it looks, so if can't resist, try to keep this to a minimum.
Be a Good Student (Most of the Time)
Want to avoid catching your professor's eye when you're goofing off? Then be a student who doesn't goof off very much. Students who usually pay attention, ask questions, get decent grades, and generally act like responsible students and adults can pass under the professor's radar when they're having a bad day. And students who goof off frequently? The professor will be looking for signs that these students aren't listening. (The same is true in the working world. If you work hard most of the time, the boss won't notice the afternoon you spend surfing the web.)
And here's the thing about not listening. Most of the time, it's a bad idea. You're not going to do well in class if you don't pay attention, and you know it. But once in a while, everyone needs a mental break. So use good common sense and with some practice, you'll learn to convey that wide awake and ready to learn.
Naomi Rockler-Gladen - Instructional designer and freelance writer, Naomi Rockler-Gladen writes some of Suite101's most read work.
