Get to know your students. Know your subject matter. HAVE FUN bringing your students to and through that subject matter. I use games as test bonus questions. We do class projects. Take a field trip. Bring in a speaker. Most importantly, enjoy your class and have fun.
Alexcia,
Good suggestions for how to keep students engaged and focused on the outcomes of the course for themselves. They need this type of reinforcement throughout the course.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
It is always important to motivate your students. Some ways to help keep students excited about a course is to continue to encourage them, remind them of the progress they have made throughout the course, and remember to make the class subject matter exciting.
The biggest way I have found to motivate students is to give them real world examples of how they will use the information I am presenting. If they have a reason they will need the information in the future they definitely will be more excited about learning it.
I vary instructional methods and offer student-directed opportunities for classroom discussion relevant to the subject matter.
Sandra,
Showing them the the progress they have made and didn't realize is a good motivator. They get involved in the functions of the course and overlook the knowledge they have acquired and skills they have developed. These reminders are eye openers for them.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
On way I find helps students to become motivated and excited about the course is by showing them after each class how much they've learned since coming in the classroom and the skills they've adquired. I always ask them in the beginning of the class how much they know about the subject and then at the end. They feel very proud of themselves and motivated to learn more.
You are right. I have found that when I tell the students what will be the fruits of learning the skill sets in the course, it itself helps. Like you said, its a glimpse in their future and they come to us for better future through learning new knowledge and skills
I motivate my students my having them envision themselves as practicing professionals employing all the skill sets they have learned throughout their educational experience.
I think that the best way to motivate my students is to as a teacher always be enthusiastic about course material. When a student can see my excitement they are more engaged and motivated to learn the information.
Javaid,
The key is motivation and you have addressed the basis for it very well. The students need to have shared with them a vision of the future so they will continue to see themselves as having potential.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
The way I keep my studennts motivated and excited about the course are by engaging them directly. I make sure that give every studentthe knowledge and skills that they need for the work field. I have them working in groups, I always have plenty of examples, lots of questions, and they have hands on materials to help them learn. I do not let anyone sit back and tune out.
Tell them about the benefits.
Tell them about the application of the body of knowledge in the real world.
Bring industry professionals in the class room.
In career schools, one of the best way to motivate with a focus, is to encourage, explain and prepare the students for the credentialing third party exams. Over the years, I have found it over and over again that students can go way above and beyond their own perceived abilities, if we motivate them to pass the industry exam. It not only motivates them, it gives them a feeling of satisfaction about themselves and the school they are attending. It ensures quality of education both for the instructor and the students
Dr Hassler,
You have laid out a very clear and concise strategy for capturing student attention and then getting them to focus progress they have made. This gives them a clear understanding of the ROI in relation to their effort.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Billie Kay,
You make a good point about professional behavior. Students need to see how a professional conducts him/herself in different settings. This way they will know how to interact and communicate with other workers once they are out in the field.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
This is a great question. I actually now teach at the school I graduated from. I try to motivate students by giving personal experiences of my time here at school and how it prepared me to become a medical assistant and work out in the field. I share stories about when I worked in a doctors office and just try to get them excited for what they will evenutally be doing.
One of the best ways that I have discovered that helps students become motivated and excited about a course is to let them know that I was once in their position and I would always ask myself why I had to study so much and so many different courses; including those in which I did not excel or felt bored at times. I proceed to let them know that each and every course has a purpose in real life practice. In this case, the practice of dentistry/dental hygiene. They suddenly take an interest in the course and realize that all courses are designed to some how or in some fashion, at one point in their careers, will become relevant. Even if you have to get lost in the minutia at times.
Another way to motivate a student about any course is to show the student that he/she is advancing. It might be at a slow pace in the beginning, but by the end of the semester the baby steps that he/she is taking will turn into walking steps. It is part of making sure the student understands the big picture.
Dr. Hassler
I have had previous students talk about their current careers and what part of the course helped them the most.
Courses where the students thought they would not need in the real world turned out to be useful, such as OHM's law and Heat load calculations.
I also discussed my previous work history and area's that I enjoyed the most.
I also let students choose writing topics of interest to them, especially in writing a research paper. I had one medical assisting student who wanted to know more about the new health care reform law to see if she qualified to go back on her parents' insurance. She did the research and found out she was eligible to be on their insurance for another two years. Researching something that affected her life and was related to her career motivated her to approach the research paper with enthusiasm.
In teaching grammar and usage, I like to help students see that different settings require different types of language usage. When students see that they are increasing their versatility, rather than discarding one way of speaking to acquire another for all times and places, they often drop the defensiveness that sometimes prevents students from being enthusiastic about studying standard English. I use personal examples from my own background in a rural southern state where people tend to talk one way among relatives and friends and another in a professional setting.
