Hi Tanya,
Good for you. Your approach is innovative and supportive of the learning needs of your students in a subject area that is not at the top of their "to learn" list. Sounds like you make it fun for them while still getting your content across.
Gary
I teach a course that can also be very dry and repetitive. I remind students that they should try to do well in the class, not because they will get a good grade, but because they will be more competent as a professional after graduation. It is easy for my students in their first quarter to get bogged down in school and lose sight of the long term goals for their education. The class I teach builds a foundation for further courses. I teach medical assistants, and remind them that errors they make could have serious consequences to them and their patients. Overall, I try to make learning fun with games and mnemonic devices to memorize basic rules.
Hi Amanda,
Right you are about the adult students having goals for themselves and their future. The more help you can provide them in moving toward that goal the higher the student retention rate is going to be. By seeing application and relevancy to their studies they are able to more clearly see their career goals.
Gary
Hi David,
I like your approach to sharing content with students. The idea of having some intrigue and challenge to the course content helps to keep the attention and focus of the students. It also makes it more fun for them to learn about.
Gary
Hi Jonathan,
So true. They need to be able to "connect the dots" between the classroom and real life. The more opportunities they have to see application and relevancy to what they are studying the greater their engagement will be.
Gary
From my experiences, learners are motivated not only by the instructor but by their own abilities to want to succeed in their accomplishments. Adult learners typically have a purpose as to why they are furthering their education. They need to see a purpose in the degree they are working towards obtaining in order to remain motivated about the courses they are taking and the degree program they are completing.
Amanda
I think some ways to keep my students motivated and excited about any course. is to keep them intrigued about the subject as much as you can. learn to appeal to all learning styles. whether it be by reading, mini lectures, demonstrations, or letting them practice on their own.
Every class I try to relate the information I am providing to a real world situation. As we move through the class I become aware of my students outside responsibilities. Once I know these facts I can relate much of the information in a personal manner. If they can see the relevance in their own world the student has a much better chance of retaining the knowledge
I model sharing how my personal experiences relate to what we are studying and then invite the students to share their experiences. This bridges the gap between their lives and their learning. They feel successful sharing their relevant experiences and nothing builds motivation like success.
Hi John,
I like this approach a lot. I use this same method in my classes with the same great results that you are getting. All the students become involved and the resulting discussions and problem solving solutions really help to expand the learning of the students.
Gary
One favored manner is to present a dilemma they may face in the field. To elicit critical thought, I present a situation and ask each student (both outspoken and introverted students) for feedback. The discussion evolves into an exercise to determine potential outcomes based on their assessments. Everyone contributes, thus learning more about life as well!
I agree in every sense, Patricia. Giving lectures and reviews in an abstract (i.e. enthusiastically unconventional) manner always results in better recall during testing!
Hi Grace,
Good effort in trying to keep students engaged in a course that is required. I teach several required courses and find I have to work very hard to keep the students engaged throughout the course. I know they aren't interested in the content in the general sense but I believe I teach content that can help them in life so I want them to get some of the content I share with them. Also, I get to be creative in my teaching because I am trying to win them over to my content area during their time in the course.
Gary
Hi Jason,
By connecting the dots between the classroom and the real world the students start to appreciate the information they are receiving and how it can be applied to their lives. This is what education is all about. You are right on with your comments about how this can be done.
Gary
I teach a wide array of students, some of which are just filling a course requirement and will never think about the subject again. I try to keep it on an even keel so everyone stays engaged and bring current events to the table to discuss at the start of class.
Games and group exercises are a great motivator since it doesn't seem like work, just a time out day with a fun activity. I find it reinforces the learning objective and gets the quieter, less motivated student to participate and engage.
I completely agree with you. I have noticed increased interest and motivation from my students when I connect the theory to real world applications. If the students can relate the material to something they experience in their every day lives, then they are more likely to be interested in the subject matter as well as actually learning it.
Adrienne, great point. It is pretty basic, but worthy of reminder. And there is a strong element of entertaining to remember. Thanks.
Hi Adrienne,
Right you are about personal motivation. Excitement is contagious so the more excited we are the more are students are going to catch the spirit. This leads to a great situation for learning and personal growth.
Gary
Sometimes it is so hard to motivate learners, but I feel that this unit gave some good examples of keeping student attention and interaction high.
Motivation is sometimes one of the biggest obstacles to overcome within the classroom, especially in a course that the student is not completely comfortable with.
The best way to help students to become motivated and excited about the course is to be a motivated yourself. Set the classroom as your stage, learn your parts, entertain and inform and enjoy the show!
