<p>If the class isn't too big or too small, you could organize some simple games. You can have a tournament, possibly with prizes. The prize can be as simple as a gold star sticker like the ones elementary school teachers have given out for years. </p>

<p>Darts<br>
Basketball Free Throws<br>
Baseball/beanbag: "hit a target"<br>
Frisbee (Ultimate)<br>
Make a circle of people and throw a few small balls back and forth around it, calling out the name of the recipient as you throw.<br>
Musical Chairs<br>
Hand slapping (Pease Porridge hot --  )  </p>

<p>Or plan in advance and have people recite some poem - dramatically (weirdly).</p>

<p>The idea is to get them on their feet doing something together, possibly competitively, but not too competitively. Find something that will make them happy and laugh. Don't just make it free time. Change of pace can also free the mind. </p>

<p>If they will be together as a class for a long time you could ask the students for ideas for the activity. </p>

<p>If part of their work in class involves teamwork this can have a positive effect on team building as well as getting a bit of exercise. You may not even need "prizes". </p>

<p>Yes, I'm intentionally giving strange examples here, but you know a lot of this stuff from when you were a kid. You can find more online. Many of these games can be adapted to adults. It is hardest to do with teen-agers who are often too self conscious. </p>

<p>Note that PLoP Conferences in the Patterns Community have several sessions of "Game Time" each day. Fun and active. It is one of the main reasons that it <em>is</em> a community, actually. They often have a special role of "Games Master" to organize it. I've used this idea in intensive courses both to break the ice at the start and to get people doing things together as a team.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-22T08:28:36.283Z
If you can teach something in this game time, even better: They will learn something, and may engage more (as they don't see it as wasting time). Also explain why you are doing it, as this will help.
ctrl-alt-delor
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-24T01:35:01.820Z
What does any of this happy-clappy nonsense have to do with *learning computer science?*" If I was forced to take part in that sort of time wasting, I would just leave the class - and you are *forcing* people to take part, through peer pressure from those who will prefer throwing balls around to using their brains.
alephzero
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-26T10:51:49.363Z
@alephzero *Breaks* have to do with *learning*. I'd love to see how well you function after 4 hours of continuous learning with 0 breaks. As for the "happy-clappy nonsense", this heavily depends on the teacher. And I have to admit, you have to be on a very very high level to pull this sort of thing off. But if you can, it will work wonders. Also, **this answer is about spending time during the breaks, and clearly about elementary school** level. Why would it upset you is beyond me...
vacip
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-26T11:34:31.403Z
Actually, I did this with _adults in a doctoral program_, but just for the reasons you suggest. It is very successful - and necessary - and team-building. However, if you are seen by your students as primarily authoritarian, then just send them out and lock the door. (No, I didn't really say that.) As I said above, it is teen-agers who have the hardest time with such a solution. On the other hand, if a student came to me as a "brain in a jar" then I'd probably exempt them from game-time. But they would resent the fact they were left out, I think.
Buffy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-21T16:57:00.650Z
2017-09-21T17:02:06.347Z
2017-09-21T17:02:06.347Z
Buffy
<ol>
<li><p>We do most of our work in vampire-mode, i.e. lights-off. Turning the light <em>on</em> for breaks goes a long way towards encouraging students to rest their eyes and stretch.</p></li>
<li><p>I put a 5-10 minute timer on the projector before every classroom context-switch, so a break doesn't take students by surprise. (It's easy to get lost in this sort of work.)</p></li>
</ol>

<p>But you can't enforce rest. There will always be students who believe they can work forever without consequences, and should, and there will always be students who are just too excited about the day's content to slow down for every break.</p>

<p>Our reality is that students can take a break whenever they like; the primary purpose of my <em>official</em> breaks is to ensure students that it is <em>okay</em> to rest; many of us have been raised with a philosophy of overwork, and I don't have a single student who is in danger of failing because of laziness.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-06T22:12:50.290Z
2017-10-06T22:12:50.290Z
Cody Hess
<p>I don't understand all the hate this question is getting. I'm guessing the answers depend on the context a lot.</p>

<p><strong>Context of my answer</strong></p>

<p>I regularly hold company trainings. Adult education. These are full day IT trainings, that means 9 AM to 5 PM. In the contract we offer 90 minute blocks with 15 minute breaks between and a 45 minute lunch break.</p>

<p><strong>Importance of breaks</strong>  </p>

<p>A break is <strong>not</strong> a waste of time. Researchers disagree on the amount of time an average human can uphold focused attention for, but all agree it is measured in minutes. I have learnt 4-5 minutes at the university, and I have read some researchers claiming it to be up to 20 minutes. But you can't expect an average human to uphold focused attention for hours at an end. It is possible to renew attention, this is where the teacher comes in by changing the rhythm, the tone, the visualization, the exercise. But from time to time, breaks are needed. (The 8 second attention span you hear about is different, it is the burst attention span or whatever it is called.)</p>

<p>It is not just the attention though, but moving/stretching as well. Most workplaces have recommendations, and though there are slight variations, most revolve around the "work for 60 minutes, get up and move for 15". This is not only beneficiary to the health of the individual, but also (many studies point this out) improves work performance.</p>

<p><strong>Answer to the original question</strong></p>

<p>My actual answer is: explain to them why breaks are important, explain to them how getting up, stretching, moving can help them concentrate, but don't try to force them to do so. If sitting is the new smoking, then dealing with it is similar: you can't just forcefully take the cigarette out of their hands. They know their own bodies and what type of break refills them. And they will learn the importance of breaks the hard way.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-26T12:05:09.527Z
While I think the question is more about students working by themselves for too long to be healthy, there is research that suggests that a lecture should not exceed 20 minutes or the attention starts to drift. The idea is to break up longer sessions with lecture and other more active things, though not necessarily physical activity. The usual thing is to use "active learning" after a short lecture.
Buffy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-26T12:05:18.923Z
You've added some example context which is still absent in the original question - I expect that in this context the breaks are more likely to be taken (e.g. lunch, even in the same room, requires some engagement). I don't see the experience you're describing reflected in the original question. Fortunately, you've not suggested gamification of the primary activity...
Sean Houlihane
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-26T16:29:23.300Z
I don't really disagree with anything you said here. Please note that most of the "hate" in this question is directed at the idea of **forcing** students to take a break in a certain way, or to **punish** them for not taking a break exactly how the teacher wanted them to. If I recharge by looking at Twitter for ten minutes, who are you to tell me otherwise? I'm pretty sure you and I are saying more or less the same thing, especially with your last paragraph.
Kevin Workman
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-26T10:44:02.833Z
2017-09-26T10:44:02.833Z
vacip
<p>Breaks? I'm in highschool (not an adult) and I'd be kind of offended if someone told me to go "take a break", <em>especially</em> in an elective - I took this course to learn, not to get told that "sitting is the new smoking". You're wasting their time. (Also, don't assume your students spend their whole day sitting - a not insignificant number of them probably work out or do some form of activity during their day. No need to force it on them!)</p>

<p>Now, that being said - you don't need to rely on breaks to get people up and moving! There's activities for illustrating different sorting algorithms by having people stand in a row and shuffle themselves according to the algorithm; there's activities for "programming" each other, there's activities for just about anything you want to do.</p>

<p>These have the bonus of helping the information stick in the mind of the student ("remember that time we programmed Joe so that he walked into a wall?") and, most importantly, having actual substantive content - that is, not wasting student time.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-25T23:42:48.113Z
+1 for the first paragraph, agreed completely. I'll just add that I'd also get sick of constant "let's get up and moving!" type activities. I'm there to learn. I paid money to be there. Don't waste my time with cleverly disguised "breaks" that I know I don't need. (Or that I might not be physically capable of! Being an adult sucks, and my knees aren't what they used to be!)
Kevin Workman
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-26T10:55:08.030Z
Why would it offend you that a break is held e.g. every 90 minutes? The teacher needs it more than you, but you would need it too. (Even @KevinWorkman needs it, at least his mind and body does, even if he denies it.) Breaks are not a waste of time, just like sleeping. Yes, we sleep every day, what a waste of time! But try working after 24 hours of wakefullness...
vacip
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-26T10:58:05.567Z
The 2nd and 3rd paragraphs deserve a + though.
vacip
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-26T12:03:41.640Z
@vacip sure, there's a place for breaks, but that place is not in a paid for adult education class.
auden
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-26T12:49:07.543Z
@heather even if that class lasts 360 minutes (4*90 minutes, but I do hold breaks) - this is the case in many adult education intensive courses, actually 90% of the courses I hold. I'd love to hear your opinion on this at 14:30 when there is still 2 hours to go, with no lunch or toilet break since 9 AM. :)
vacip
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-26T16:25:04.827Z
@vacip Please understand what is being said before you attempt to offer criticism. I never said that nobody should take breaks. I'm simply against the idea of **punishing** students who would rather remain seated during said break. I'm also against the idea of using children's games to "trick" adults into being more active on these breaks. I'm an adult. I paid hundreds, or thousands, of dollars to be in the class. I'm not there to play ring around the rosie or to stand in the hall as punishment for not being active during a break.
Kevin Workman
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-26T20:28:06.430Z
@vacip, oh, I meant in terms of breaks being required/for anything other than quick-use-the-restroom-get-a-drink breaks (or lunch breaks, or whatever).
auden
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-25T23:12:23.070Z
2017-09-25T23:12:23.070Z
auden
<p>My instruction time has specified breaks, but often the students do not take them, even if I urge them to. This results in them working and listening to my instruction while they are overdone. I tell them this is a marathon, not a sprint, and they will have the rest of their lives to sit in a chair in front of a keyboard, but they do not take the break, or they get a sip of water in the hallway and sit back down. This is impeding their learning and making them unhealthy ("Sitting is the new smoking", right?).</p>

<p>Have you found any effective ways to get students out of the chair to take their full breaks, other than having them take up smoking (thus defeating the purpose) or yelling Fire?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-21T16:31:47.943Z
Some more context might help us to answer your question.
Sean Houlihane
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-21T17:00:31.693Z
What exactly do you want them to do during these breaks? I don't see how standing around in the hallway looking at my phone for 10 minutes is any better than staying in my chair and looking at my phone for 10 minutes. How do you know this is making them unhealthy? You've tagged this with [tag:adult-education], so treat them like adults. If they don't want to take a break, then there isn't much you can (or should) do.
Kevin Workman
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-22T04:44:14.467Z
Hey man, I hope this is not a joke. Are they glued (literally) to their seats. Or are you that good a faculty that they don't wish to stop hanging out with you. I got to vote to close this question.
Jay
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-22T08:37:31.240Z
I have had this same problem in industry. It can result in reduced performance, lower quality code, as well as poor health. First explain why they need breaks, and that you expect them to take them, and not use hand held devices as a substitute to a break. Then issue consequences, when they are overdone ( Ask a question of someone that did not take a break and looks tired, make them stand outside for not paying attention. Be real mean, but fair. )
ctrl-alt-delor
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-22T16:29:55.193Z
@ctrl-alt-delor If I took a class for adults and the teacher made me sit outside as punishment because I didn't "take a break" in the middle of class, I would immediately ask for my money back.
Kevin Workman
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-22T18:20:07.053Z
@KevinWorkman I said nothing about punishment. I said consequences. I no most people don't know the difference, and substitute the word, when asked to change there behaviour. So if they fall asleep send them for a break, send them now, and choose a now that will have the biggest impact.
ctrl-alt-delor
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-22T18:36:10.640Z
@ctrl-alt-delor A negative consequence that is enforced to be "real mean" as a result of violating some "rule" is literally a punishment. My point still stands. This question is about [tag:adult-education]. Saying that the teacher should make an adult "stand outside" as punishment for not "taking a break" is ridiculous.
Kevin Workman
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-22T18:38:06.630Z
@kevin if being hit by a car, is a punishment for not looking, then you are correct. Saying that being an adult is a licence to not have consequences for your actions (to be irresponsible) …
ctrl-alt-delor
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-22T18:39:39.473Z
@ctrl-alt-delor I mean, it kind-of is. But we aren't talking about that. We're talking about a teacher forcing a student to sit outside because the student didn't do something that the teacher wanted them to do. That's a punishment.
Kevin Workman
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-22T19:24:13.603Z
How about bringing the free water to drink during the class? They'll need a bio break without your urging them
Aksakal almost surely binary
<student-motivation><adult-education><classroom-environment>
Giving Students a Break
# Giving Students a Break

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-09-21)

My instruction time has specified breaks, but often the students do not take them, even if I urge them to. This results in them working and listening to my instruction while they are overdone. I tell them this is a marathon, not a sprint, and they will have the rest of their lives to sit in a chair in front of a keyboard, but they do not take the break, or they get a sip of water in the hallway and sit back down. This is impeding their learning and making them unhealthy ("Sitting is the new smoking", right?).

Have you found any effective ways to get students out of the chair to take their full breaks, other than having them take up smoking (thus defeating the purpose) or yelling Fire?

**Tags:** student-motivation, adult-education, classroom-environment

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Some more context might help us to answer your question.  
> **username_2**: What exactly do you want them to do during these breaks? I don't see how standing around in the hallway looking at my phone for 10 minutes is any better than staying in my chair and looking at my phone for 10 minutes. How do you know this is making them unhealthy? You've tagged this with [tag:adult-education], so treat them like adults. If they don't want to take a break, then there isn't much you can (or should) do.  
> **username_3**: Hey man, I hope this is not a joke. Are they glued (literally) to their seats. Or are you that good a faculty that they don't wish to stop hanging out with you. I got to vote to close this question.  
> **username_4**: I have had this same problem in industry. It can result in reduced performance, lower quality code, as well as poor health. First explain why they need breaks, and that you expect them to take them, and not use hand held devices as a substitute to a break. Then issue consequences, when they are overdone ( Ask a question of someone that did not take a break and looks tired, make them stand outside for not paying attention. Be real mean, but fair. )  
> **username_2**: @username_4 If I took a class for adults and the teacher made me sit outside as punishment because I didn't "take a break" in the middle of class, I would immediately ask for my money back.  
> **username_4**: @KevinWorkman I said nothing about punishment. I said consequences. I no most people don't know the difference, and substitute the word, when asked to change there behaviour. So if they fall asleep send them for a break, send them now, and choose a now that will have the biggest impact.  
> **username_2**: @username_4 A negative consequence that is enforced to be "real mean" as a result of violating some "rule" is literally a punishment. My point still stands. This question is about [tag:adult-education]. Saying that the teacher should make an adult "stand outside" as punishment for not "taking a break" is ridiculous.  
> **username_4**: @kevin if being hit by a car, is a punishment for not looking, then you are correct. Saying that being an adult is a licence to not have consequences for your actions (to be irresponsible) …  
> **username_2**: @username_4 I mean, it kind-of is. But we aren't talking about that. We're talking about a teacher forcing a student to sit outside because the student didn't do something that the teacher wanted them to do. That's a punishment.  
> **username_5**: How about bringing the free water to drink during the class? They'll need a bio break without your urging them  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_9 on 2017-10-06. Score: 3

1. We do most of our work in vampire-mode, i.e. lights-off. Turning the light *on* for breaks goes a long way towards encouraging students to rest their eyes and stretch.
2. I put a 5-10 minute timer on the projector before every classroom context-switch, so a break doesn't take students by surprise. (It's easy to get lost in this sort of work.)

But you can't enforce rest. There will always be students who believe they can work forever without consequences, and should, and there will always be students who are just too excited about the day's content to slow down for every break.

Our reality is that students can take a break whenever they like; the primary purpose of my *official* breaks is to ensure students that it is *okay* to rest; many of us have been raised with a philosophy of overwork, and I don't have a single student who is in danger of failing because of laziness.


---

### Answer by username_8 on 2017-09-26. Score: 3

I don't understand all the hate this question is getting. I'm guessing the answers depend on the context a lot.

**Context of my answer**

I regularly hold company trainings. Adult education. These are full day IT trainings, that means 9 AM to 5 PM. In the contract we offer 90 minute blocks with 15 minute breaks between and a 45 minute lunch break.

**Importance of breaks**

A break is **not** a waste of time. Researchers disagree on the amount of time an average human can uphold focused attention for, but all agree it is measured in minutes. I have learnt 4-5 minutes at the university, and I have read some researchers claiming it to be up to 20 minutes. But you can't expect an average human to uphold focused attention for hours at an end. It is possible to renew attention, this is where the teacher comes in by changing the rhythm, the tone, the visualization, the exercise. But from time to time, breaks are needed. (The 8 second attention span you hear about is different, it is the burst attention span or whatever it is called.)

It is not just the attention though, but moving/stretching as well. Most workplaces have recommendations, and though there are slight variations, most revolve around the "work for 60 minutes, get up and move for 15". This is not only beneficiary to the health of the individual, but also (many studies point this out) improves work performance.

**Answer to the original question**

My actual answer is: explain to them why breaks are important, explain to them how getting up, stretching, moving can help them concentrate, but don't try to force them to do so. If sitting is the new smoking, then dealing with it is similar: you can't just forcefully take the cigarette out of their hands. They know their own bodies and what type of break refills them. And they will learn the importance of breaks the hard way.

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: While I think the question is more about students working by themselves for too long to be healthy, there is research that suggests that a lecture should not exceed 20 minutes or the attention starts to drift. The idea is to break up longer sessions with lecture and other more active things, though not necessarily physical activity. The usual thing is to use "active learning" after a short lecture.  
> **username_1**: You've added some example context which is still absent in the original question - I expect that in this context the breaks are more likely to be taken (e.g. lunch, even in the same room, requires some engagement). I don't see the experience you're describing reflected in the original question. Fortunately, you've not suggested gamification of the primary activity...  
> **username_2**: I don't really disagree with anything you said here. Please note that most of the "hate" in this question is directed at the idea of **forcing** students to take a break in a certain way, or to **punish** them for not taking a break exactly how the teacher wanted them to. If I recharge by looking at Twitter for ten minutes, who are you to tell me otherwise? I'm pretty sure you and I are saying more or less the same thing, especially with your last paragraph.  

---

### Answer by username_10 on 2017-09-25. Score: 2

Breaks? I'm in highschool (not an adult) and I'd be kind of offended if someone told me to go "take a break", *especially* in an elective - I took this course to learn, not to get told that "sitting is the new smoking". You're wasting their time. (Also, don't assume your students spend their whole day sitting - a not insignificant number of them probably work out or do some form of activity during their day. No need to force it on them!)

Now, that being said - you don't need to rely on breaks to get people up and moving! There's activities for illustrating different sorting algorithms by having people stand in a row and shuffle themselves according to the algorithm; there's activities for "programming" each other, there's activities for just about anything you want to do.

These have the bonus of helping the information stick in the mind of the student ("remember that time we programmed Joe so that he walked into a wall?") and, most importantly, having actual substantive content - that is, not wasting student time.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: +1 for the first paragraph, agreed completely. I'll just add that I'd also get sick of constant "let's get up and moving!" type activities. I'm there to learn. I paid money to be there. Don't waste my time with cleverly disguised "breaks" that I know I don't need. (Or that I might not be physically capable of! Being an adult sucks, and my knees aren't what they used to be!)  
> **username_8**: Why would it offend you that a break is held e.g. every 90 minutes? The teacher needs it more than you, but you would need it too. (Even @KevinWorkman needs it, at least his mind and body does, even if he denies it.) Breaks are not a waste of time, just like sleeping. Yes, we sleep every day, what a waste of time! But try working after 24 hours of wakefullness...  
> **username_8**: The 2nd and 3rd paragraphs deserve a + though.  
> **username_10**: @username_8 sure, there's a place for breaks, but that place is not in a paid for adult education class.  
> **username_8**: @heather even if that class lasts 360 minutes (4*90 minutes, but I do hold breaks) - this is the case in many adult education intensive courses, actually 90% of the courses I hold. I'd love to hear your opinion on this at 14:30 when there is still 2 hours to go, with no lunch or toilet break since 9 AM. :)  
> **username_2**: @username_8 Please understand what is being said before you attempt to offer criticism. I never said that nobody should take breaks. I'm simply against the idea of **punishing** students who would rather remain seated during said break. I'm also against the idea of using children's games to "trick" adults into being more active on these breaks. I'm an adult. I paid hundreds, or thousands, of dollars to be in the class. I'm not there to play ring around the rosie or to stand in the hall as punishment for not being active during a break.  
> **username_10**: @username_8, oh, I meant in terms of breaks being required/for anything other than quick-use-the-restroom-get-a-drink breaks (or lunch breaks, or whatever).  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2017-09-21. Score: 1

If the class isn't too big or too small, you could organize some simple games. You can have a tournament, possibly with prizes. The prize can be as simple as a gold star sticker like the ones elementary school teachers have given out for years.

Darts  
Basketball Free Throws  
Baseball/beanbag: "hit a target"  
Frisbee (Ultimate)  
Make a circle of people and throw a few small balls back and forth around it, calling out the name of the recipient as you throw.  
Musical Chairs  
Hand slapping (Pease Porridge hot -- )

Or plan in advance and have people recite some poem - dramatically (weirdly).

The idea is to get them on their feet doing something together, possibly competitively, but not too competitively. Find something that will make them happy and laugh. Don't just make it free time. Change of pace can also free the mind.

If they will be together as a class for a long time you could ask the students for ideas for the activity.

If part of their work in class involves teamwork this can have a positive effect on team building as well as getting a bit of exercise. You may not even need "prizes".

Yes, I'm intentionally giving strange examples here, but you know a lot of this stuff from when you were a kid. You can find more online. Many of these games can be adapted to adults. It is hardest to do with teen-agers who are often too self conscious.

Note that PLoP Conferences in the Patterns Community have several sessions of "Game Time" each day. Fun and active. It is one of the main reasons that it *is* a community, actually. They often have a special role of "Games Master" to organize it. I've used this idea in intensive courses both to break the ice at the start and to get people doing things together as a team.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: If you can teach something in this game time, even better: They will learn something, and may engage more (as they don't see it as wasting time). Also explain why you are doing it, as this will help.  
> **username_7**: What does any of this happy-clappy nonsense have to do with *learning computer science?*" If I was forced to take part in that sort of time wasting, I would just leave the class - and you are *forcing* people to take part, through peer pressure from those who will prefer throwing balls around to using their brains.  
> **username_8**: @username_7 *Breaks* have to do with *learning*. I'd love to see how well you function after 4 hours of continuous learning with 0 breaks. As for the "happy-clappy nonsense", this heavily depends on the teacher. And I have to admit, you have to be on a very very high level to pull this sort of thing off. But if you can, it will work wonders. Also, **this answer is about spending time during the breaks, and clearly about elementary school** level. Why would it upset you is beyond me...  
> **username_6**: Actually, I did this with _adults in a doctoral program_, but just for the reasons you suggest. It is very successful - and necessary - and team-building. However, if you are seen by your students as primarily authoritarian, then just send them out and lock the door. (No, I didn't really say that.) As I said above, it is teen-agers who have the hardest time with such a solution. On the other hand, if a student came to me as a "brain in a jar" then I'd probably exempt them from game-time. But they would resent the fact they were left out, I think.  

---

