Motivator
Create a positive environment is the key in my experience.
Hi Cindy,
Sharing their thoughts is good for students. This way they know that you know and other students know what their expectations are for the course. This also helps you to know where the students are coming from.
Gary
Offering a forum where students can share their thoughts is key. I think instructors should ask the students what their goals are. In sharing their goals the instructor will be better equipped to serve as a motivator in helping the student to achieve them.
This is so true. A student really knows when they have done not so well and if you tell them they did well...well there goes your creditablility.
Hi Brain,
Not only does this help to motivate students but it aids in the development of respect and rapport between instructor and students. Well said.
Gary
I feel creating a positive environment also includes an open forum for discussion and hearing from everyone. I think back on what motivated me as a student and a lot of it had to do with me being allowed to share my opinion.
The ability to be able to motivate students is probably to major key to your success as an instructor. The secret behind motivating students is to get them to "want" to learn. The main way to do this is to make sure your material is fun, exciting and dynamic in nature.
Hi Claude,
An instructor has to be sincere with students or there will never be any respect or trust. Instructors need to be supportive of the needs of students and be accurate in their information in relation to the futures of their students.
Gary
I do agree with you but you also need to be sincere with the Students
Just in the normal course of the class there are often exciting examples. I try to highlight these loudly as a motivational tool.
As an instructor, being an inspirational leader in the classroom will engage active listening and promote two-way communication!
Kevin Rudeen
Hi, Thomas. I agree that creating a positive environment is key to motivating students. I am able to do this much more readily in an "on-campus" course. Lately however, I teach fully online. It takes more concentrated effort to create a positive environment online.
Communicating via e-mail, announcements and discussion boards using "encouraging" words and a lot of smiley faces usually works online. What are ways you would create a positive environment online.
Thanks in advance for your response,
Melonie
Hi Thomas,
I agree with you!! If we can create a positive learning environment we can put our students in the right frame of mind which helps with retaining the course content. :)
Scott Rudeen
Motivation is the key to a successful outcome for astudents
