Night Students and Motivation
One of the hardest challenges I have faced is helping students who work full time during the day, find the motivation needed to stay on task and focus at night.
One of the best motivational tools I have found so far is to try and focus on the long term impacts of learning and understanding the course material. I always try to relate to the students that the core skills they learn in the classroom have daily relevance in their chosen career field. I find that if I help the students focus on how a subject will apply to them in the field they generally rub the sleep from their eyes and sit a little straighter in their chairs to take my lecture in.
Desiree,
Good points about teaching adult students especially in the evening. I teach from 4 until 10 pm so I can appreciate your comments. My students are tired from working all day plus the class is 6 hours long. This requires a lot of planning and a host of activities to keep them engaged. I really enjoy my evening students because they are dedicated to helping create a future for themselves. This is why your points are so good because you are doing the same thing with your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Teaching adult students at night is most challenging. I believe getting the students excited about their upcoming new career once they finish their course of study helps to motivate them. I do this by talking about the field they will soon encounter or sharing a personal experience while working in the field and how I've dealt with the situation. It seems the more the instructor is excited about the career, the students become excited to finish their coursework so they can begin their new career.
Daniel,
This is such an important part of being an educator. They need to see the connection between course content and application. The more you can do this the more connected the students are going to be with the course and yourself.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have related transferable skills to some of the jobs students currently have, this gives context to the material being taught and students can better identify with the material
Inga,
This is such an important way to support your students. Knowing their instructor cares about them and their career goals is very important especially for the evening and weekend students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I try to thank my students for coming into my class, specially adult students who attending evening classes. They have reasons why they are coming late in the evening: they either work or take care the loved ones; but they are ready for a change and they are eager to learn.
I also talk to them about their reasons for choosing a particular course. It also helps me see who may struggle a little more in comprehension of the material.
Tammy,
Students like to hear real world examples and stories as you know. By sharing your own experiences you are showing the students the value of the content you are offering. You are helping them to make the connection between the classroom and the next step in their career development.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I do the same thing. I use examples from my life since I have a varied employment history. Some of my examples go back a long time but they are still valid. I also use examples that my students have shared. Some students do better because student examples fit their thinking and learning styles better than experiences from my life.
Mikel,
Right you are. This is the most common reason for taking the time and spending the money to acquire additional knowledge and skills. They have their career goals laid out.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I also ry to motivate them by talking to them about their reason for being at the school, why they want to go into the field they chose, are they content in the job that they are currently working, and I also talk about my experience in college. I worked full time with a part-time job as a work study as well as going to college full time. I find it helps the students if they can relate.
I agree once they see the big picture, usually the reason they are here is to better their lives.
Lorraine,
This is a tough area for us instructors. The fact they have to earn their grades as well as develop their competencies are foreign concepts to many students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Larry,
You are right on with your efforts. I teach from 4 until 10 pm so I am working with the same student population. There are there because they want to be and they are working to expand their career options. That being said they are still tired from working all day and coping with life challenges. So you have to help them see their future just as you mention and when they do they really increase their motivation levels.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Although that is very true, the quality of students entering our programs have an attitude that we owe them something. To motivate these students is very challenging.
