For on-ground instructors, class time is a precious and premium commodity. There is never enough of it to cover all the mateial we have or to go over what we cover in the depth we would like. When holiday breaks come around, tensions can build. Some students leave the campus before the break starts. They may be traveling some distance and have coordinated plans with family and friends. Those that come to class have started to check out mentally in anticipation of upcoming events in their personal lives. Some are under additional stress from family obligations and others have increased work demands. Whatever the case and cause, attendance and focus in class drops, sometimes significantly so.

Some instructors just cancel the class before break. Others often “lighten” up on the material coverage. Some plow ahead full steam as though nothing should be different about these classes before a break. Instructors can be left frustrated, angered, disappointed and disillusioned.

However, some instructors adapt to the changed environment and attitude of their students. Social media and web 2.0 tools offer ways to keep students engaged and keep their learning of the subject moving forward.

How do you handle breaks in the terms and student “Check-out”?

Have you tried using SM and web 2.0 tools to keep momentum in your classes?

What have you used and how did you use it? How did it work?

What are you doing for the next holiday break, which is starting right now in the US?

Tell us here and/or join us for #SMEDU chat Wednesdy, November 23^rd at noon EST and 9PM EST as we discuss this topic

Note: In the US, our Thanksgiving holiday is this Thursday, and most campuses are on break Thursday through Sunday. However, instructors around the globe face the same underlying issue, only with different timing.