Eileen, what types of responses do you get when you talk to students about your concerns? Have you consulted with other instructors that teach similar subjects about what they do to gain student trust and attention? Before you focus on what is wrong with your students just make sure you are looking into your lesson plan first and ask a very simple question - Is my class engaging and interesting to my students? You may gain more interest in your class if you talk to students about their expectations and what makes them engaged in some classes and not in others. James Jackson