West Chester University professor Onè Pagàn is using an innovative method to keep his students’ attention during his classes, writes Paul Jablow for Main Line Today.

The professor is aware that keeping his students focused during his class on Basic Biological Sciences for Non-Majors can be a challenge.

To combat this, he began adding side comments during his lectures – such as “Are you with me?” and “How cool is this!” – while scanning the students for nods or some other reaction that shows they are actually listening.

“I’ve got to keep them entertained as well as educated,” said Pagàn.

This also includes adding extra real-world examples, such as a solar-powered sea slug that is, in effect, part-plant and part-animal to highlight the way that plants get their nutrients from the sun.

He achieves this by simply asking his students to imagine standing outside in the courtyard, raising their arms and saying “Let’s make lunch.”

In fact, Pagàn’s latest book, Strange Survivors; How Organisms Attack and Defend in the Game of Life, is a good example of this, as it takes readers through the often wild and wonderful aspects of the animal kingdom.

Read more about West Chester University professor Onè Pagàn in Main Line Today here.