capturing attention
Walking the classroom as you lecture and also call on the students for their imput always
I teach HVAC/R (air conditiong and refrigeration).
I like to show the class something physical - an electrical wire arcing on a control device or a gas or oil ignighted - when a dry topic is being covered or an explaination is very wordy.
Almost always all the students sit up and take notice. I now ask them how and why it works? I don't tell them until later in the class or even the next class.
This usually carries over to some unsoliciated student homework and discussions in the next class.
When my class begins to look unfocused I too find it good to use something physical to capture their attention.
