Motivation
It's important to encourage, support, share knoledge and experiences to the students through their training for them to keep on going until they complete their couse, even with all problems of personal issues they have to deal .
Hi Kristin,
I teach a required basic course as well. The students for the most part don't have the best attitudes about the course since it is not in their field. The fun part is to do what you are doing and get them engaged in the process. You are showing them relevance and application in a course that isn't in their field but can be used in their field. Great job!
Gary
I teach Introductory Psychology to students in a technical college. As Robert stated, it is very important for these students to understand the relevance of this course to their every day lives. At the beginning of the quarter, I ask students what they think they are going to learn in this course. During each class, I facilitate group discussions on every day scenarios which applies to the theory of the day. Keeping students engaged and interactive, I find, seems to not only perpetuate motivation but also a strong rapport!
One of the greatest advantages we have as learning facilitators in an online environment is that the great majority of our students are very motivated. We’re mostly interacting with adults who are past the traditional college age and who have a clear understanding of the value of a higher education. Bringing that motivation into the center of our interaction can be a great help in handling a variety of student stressors.
How specifically can we do this? By linking everything we do to concrete goals that the student understands. I teach information technology and in every topic we cover, I encourage my students to ask themselves: “Why should I care?” If we can help them answer that question the stressors become secondary issues. Let’s look at some comments:
Student: “I am a single mom with 3 children and work full time – why should I do that excel spreadsheet?”
Instructor: Because in your future job there is a 90% chance that you will use Excel to perform your tasks; because being computer literate today means knowing Excel, Word, Powerpoint and Access.
Student: “The discussions in this course are a waste of time. I plan to be a programmer and I don’t understand how talking about all this computer stuff helps me.”
Instructor: In all professions that require a college degree you have to be able to communicate your thoughts effectively. Practicing this skill in a safe environment (the classroom) will give you the chance to acquire a skill that lends credibility to your expertise.
Student: “The software for this course is too expensive. I don’t have the money for it”
Instructor: Every penny you put into your education is one of the best investments you will ever make. There are many studies on the internet that show the earnings of a high school vs. college graduate. Here’s one of the many: http://www.earnmydegree.com/online-education/learning-center/education-value.html
To enjoy touching students lifes by giving them the tools to move ahead in life is motivating itself.Rewarding is to see them later in life employed with their spouse child, and hearing from them that they are doing well.
Hi Nadeem,
As you say it is important to develop rapport with your students. This way they will stay engaged in the learning process and see you as a person that can help them to make progress toward their career goals. This is a great opportunity to have an impact on their lives and future.
Gary
In this way, students will be motivated.
Yes, it is very important to encourage, support share knowledge and experiences with the students but at the same time keep in view on problems related to personal issues. I tis important to be a "friend" with your students. Once you build your relationship as a "friend" , then you are at a better wavelenght with your students and there is a great chance of having a much better frequency so that your message and knowledge will be accepted with agreat positive attitude and respect.
