motivation of students
how do you get them excited?
Hi William,
I like your idea of how to start a class. You are setting them up for learning success because you are capturing their interest in the content while building on their excitement.
Gary
Start class with something exciting or interesting and relevant to their future careers. Never start class with housekeeping kinds of activities....boring. Reinforce the course material with outside material of relevance. There have to be occurrences in the outside world that would provide some stimulation of the classroom environment and students.
I am a very energetic instructor and I walk around the classroom trying to engage the students. I think most students like this because it keeps their interest. Any time you are passionate about something, it is usually contagious. Showing genuine interest in the content as well as the individual student (hopefully) motivates them to reach their goals.
Hi Robert,
You are "connecting the dots" of many different learning preferences for your students. The content, visual items, special tools, and real life experiences all combine to give your students the big picture of where the course is going and how it relates to their future careers. Great job!
Gary
In a technical enviroment, I try and use visual items like pictures or bring in special tools to show them. I find that they are more eager to learn because of your experience. You have "been there and done that" so to speak
Hi Denise,
Sounds like you have developed a very refined plan for getting the material to your students and then helping with the relevancy and application aspects of it through the review method you use. Way to go--keep "connecting those dots".
Gary
I like to begin each of my classes with thought provoking questions or topics relative to the students and their needs or interests. I find this opens them up to learning and absorbing the information and gets those 'brain juices' flowing before we even dive into our information for the class period. I try and make each of those topics relative to the course and area of study covered in that class period and at the end of each class as a conclusion I connect those dots for them. I have been received well with this method of motivation
Hi Victoria,
I'm not exactly sure what you mean that you have trouble with motivation. If you can supply me with some examples I will be glad to help you with some strategies.
In the meantime I would try to create situations where the students use their nutrition content in case studies, and problem solving. Also, I would incorporate service learning into the course. Go out a talk with Senior Centers or Soup Kitchens. See if you can plan nutritious menus for them. This way the student can help people while using their newly acquired knowledge. This really helps with application and relevancy. When students use their knowledge like this they get really excited and motivated.
Gary
Some times I have trouble with motivation, can you give me some advices for this?
I am teaching nutrition to chefs and I teach in english and spanish, spanish is my native language, so is better for me.
Thanks
Victoria
I agree with that also. I think adding examples to everyday life is another along with things that occurred to you also can help.
Keeping the students engaged in class with hands on activities is definitely a great way to keep them motivated.
I motivate my students by not only showing them how to apply the material to the "outside" world, but also keeping them focused on the ultimate goal.
I found through my teachings that the best way to get my students motivated is to do hands on projects. It keeps their focus/attention, gets them involved, and allows me to see firsthand if a student might need extra help with the lesion.
~Cassey Newberry
I think to get the students excited you need to put the content in a lense that shows them it is applicable to either their professional or personal worlds. As an English instructor, I am teaching tons of ideas that can be translated into my students's daily lives--- even as far as watching the news and truly having the critical reading abilities to interpret and analyze it for what it is and how it is presented. They like to feel "smart"--- that they have learned new skills that give them new insights that they can apply in the real world, or their understanding of it.
Hi Joe,
Truly a "win-win" for everyone. Thanks for sharing this example of how using a mentor made a big difference for students.
Gary
Hi Colleen,
I like this method as well. They do get excited about putting together a presentation and then getting to share it. Student presentations really help with knowledge retention because they are learning the material twice. Once as they prepare their presentation and again when they present it.
Gary
I could not AGREE WITH YOU MORE .This month I had two new students enter our class.Seemed like they were more nervous than normal.Gave each new student a mentor and stress vanished.also mentors came alive with all new energy and passion for helping with new students.
joe
I found that a good way to get my students involved in class is to give them the opportunity to instruct other students. A lesson topic is assigned to them and after preparation time is given, they teach their fellow classmates the topic.
I find students to be very pragmatic so make a connection about what your teaching and their massage craft
joe
