Acknowledge openly the progress that the student has made, and encourage the student to use his/her newly aquired skills asap and often.
I agree that instructors and staff have to stay involved with students and encourage and motivate them daily. But how do you stay encouraging when students won't pick up their books read until they come into the class room?
Hi B. Gunter,
Good strategies. Thanks for sharing them with us. I am sure they will be of help to other instructors.
Gary
Hi All,
Many great suggestions for how an instructor can bring excitement and enthusiasm into the classroom and as a result set the stage for student motivation. If the instructor doesn't bring it to the class it isn't going to happen that is for sure.
Gary
I employ several strategies already mentioned: games (Jeopardy & Bingo are favorites), crosswords, role playing, and model making which help a great deal. We also take "Guess what I found out today..." discussion breaks on topics related to our field of study. At the end of class, I have my students jot down, on an index card, 5 things they learned in class and 2 questions they want answered (It's their "Get-out-of-class" ticket!)I compile their questions, print them out and then have a jam session in the next class when we discuss and answer them.
I think you should always be open for change considering the type of students we teach change all the time.
Your right. A teacher has to enter the classroom with energy and the feeling that you want to be there. If you don't want to be there why should the students?
I believe part of motivating students is to first see what are motivating factors for them. Is it economic, knowledge, etc. looking at this first because all of us are motivated for different reasons.
Hi Mark,
I want to take your class. Excitement and enthusiasm are two things that need to be a part of each instructor's instructional planning. Keep up the good work and I wish you much teaching success.
Gary
I love the use of "stories" & "stuff".
If I can use a flashlight, slinky, straw, Etc to get the students to pay attention, I know motivating them is that much easier.
I want the students to say wow that was fun and I learned something too.
We can all just read from a book !!
Search for out of the box type thinking.
I then add personal real life stories & situations with the "stuff", and now most of them are attentive and motivated to learn the lesson.
I started using play doh about 10 years ago to help with my A & P classes. If i ask the students at the end of the year what I should keep or change, play doh is #1 on the keep list.
Have fun think out of the box and motivate !!
Hi Laura,
I have found the same thing. The more the students can see how they fit in the class and know they are supported by the instructor the more engaged they become.
Gary
I find that if the students feel comfortable in class with each other and with the instructor they become more motivated in class.
Hi Vivian,
This is so important to the students. This way they know they have someone in an authority position that cares about their success. This also earns their respect which is important for the students to develop.
Gary
Kelly,
An enthusiastic teacher gives energy bouncing in all corners of the classroom. It holds your students in a loop of excitement. They participate by answering questions, asking questions, or in short, interacting with the teacher and their classmates.
I consider enthusiasm as a stimulus to keep the nervous system firing and the learning engagement going!
I make sure know each individual student, why they are in this program and what is their motivating force. I always find a positive regsrdless of whatever negative may be facing the student and this help to make them feel better and re-focus.
So many outside factors contribute to my students. Typically my students are single parents, low-income, and many times do not even have basic needs met. Having support here on campus is helpful for them. In addition, we must have a "carrot" that will make them want to come back to the next session to learn. Many times, talking with them about the reasons they are here will be motivation enough. Topical content must be interesting so their time in class is considered valuable to them.
Hi Karen,
This was a great narrative about how you have grown as an instructor and observed how to work more effectively with your students. This is what being a professional educator is all about. Thank you for sharing with us. I know it will be motivating to others that read this.
Gary
I have been teaching in a career college for about 2 1/2 years now and still consider myself relatively new yet with some experience to draw from. There are a few things that I have noticed that seem to encourage and motivate learners - just simple things. I try to be very generous with "thank you's" - when they hand me their homework; when they even turn in their tests!; when they ask questions or contribute to the class discussion. There are numerous ways throughout a class session to find some things to thank them for. Another thing that I have practiced is noticing small efforts to praise. I have recently tightened my standard for what I consider "completed" homework. As they are adjusting to this expectation, it gives me opportunity to say to them or write on their papers some form of "good job" expression. I've noticed them looking for my responses!
I would also like to mention that sometimes, just acknowledging their challenges -even when I can't change a schedule, exam, or other academic expectation to ease their situation- seems to diffuse the anger and anxiety of the challenge.
And lastly, the other thing that I have noticed is comments about how much I enjoy what I'm teaching! It has opened numerous small discussions during breaks about the benefit and relevance of the current topic to their practice.
So far, these "professional habits" on my part seem to be working! Thank you for the opportunity to respond.
One way to motovate students is to show them what they already know about a topic and then allow them to build on the experiences. For example, Teaching Medical Assistant students I always ask the class if they have ever placed a Band-Aid on someone or taken care of them when they had the flu. As the hands go up I tell them that what they are about to learn will only expand upon the knowledge they already have. This does a couple of things. It breaks down the walls of fear that a lot of adult learners might have upon retutning to the classroom,deminstrates how they can use their existing knowledge to their advantage,and hopefully gets them excited about moving foward on an already established foundation. I have found that another key to motovating students is to minimize the negative, by this I mean get them actively involved everyday in the classroom so that they are not focused on what things are going wrong for them. Maximize the positive, you can do this, you are almost there, Wow you made it!!!!
Adult students need learning that has meaning. They are after all paying for it. They will quickly loose interest if they get nothing out of what they are learning. Objectives need to be clear and necessary for the working world. Our stuents are after all parents, employees,and spouces. Their time, family,and jobs are all important.
Listen to your students. Offer a time that they can tell you a little bit about themselves. Then show an interest. We all want to be heard and understood.
Role play and use case studies as much as possible. Keep them moving physically as well as stimulating the mind. Give them an oppertunity to be self- directed. You will be surprised what you will see.
Some of the ways you can motivate them are to not always stay in just the course book. Sometimes I have found that if you use your outside sources it can greatly impact there learning expirence.
