Roberta,
This is one of the challenges of being an educator. You are always striving to find that balance and keep students engaged. I think it is fun as well since an instructor can be creative in the selection of content and instructional delivery. Exciting to see how an activity works for students that you have developed.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
There needs to be the just right challenge, in that the course material can not be over their heads and they become frustrated because of low scores on tests. On the other hand if the material is not mentally stimulating the motivation to study will also results in poor test scores.
Ralph,
Like your example of reeling them in. Yes, teaching is much like fishing you put bait (interesting topics) out and see if the fish (students) will respond. If they don't then new bait needs to be used so the students will see the value of the content through application and relevancy.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Adrian,
Thank you for sharing your experience with establishing yourself as the learning leader. When you demonstrate knowledge, experience and expertise in your field your age is no longer a factor because your students know they are being instructed by a competent professional.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Motivation is a tricky subject- some great instructors are not great motivators however most good motivators are good instructors. First there is he basic concept of all instruction- keep the attention of your students. To do this you must be able to stay connected- you will hit that moment where natural human attention span wonders-the good motivator is able to reel them back in at keep them somewhat involved. Methods can vary but the strategy focuses on recognizing whether you indeed are keeping their attention. Seizing the moment and reeling them in.
I let my students know where I have been in the IT industry. I admittedly was a little nervous to see how my students would respond to an instructor younger than them. After explaining where I have gone and what I have done and am still doing it was not only a surprise for them but a great motivator.
Emeline,
Stories like this are important to share as they make the connection for students to the application of content being taught. They see relevancy via these stories and this increases their motivation levels.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I would inspire the students with my own experience as a bedside nurse and how rewarding it is to care for a person that is dying and you save the patients life.This for me is highly motivating for the student to become a nurse someday and that I dedicate myself to teach them well so they can be a safe and effective nurse in the future.
Cynthia,
By personalizing the content students start to see the value of the course and how it will help them to achieve their career goals. This is when they start to get motivated and excited about what they are learning.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I find that students are motivated when they can input experiences from their lives. When done properly ( not letting a student drag on and on, or off subject, or constantly being the one to speak), others can learn by and sometimes relate to the experience of the student.
Matthew,
Buy-ins are so important to student success. They need to see the value, relevancy and application of the content. When they do they will realize they are investing in their future.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Showing the students their actual buy-ins to the material. The material is more than college lecture and homework. It is career preparation.
Chris,
This is a good way to establish yourself as the learning leader and subject matter expert. This way your student will know they have an instructor that is passionate about the subject matter and excited about teaching it.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Share personal experience of your education and how it translated to your professional career
Gustavo,
Great list of potential student motivators. This is what is needed if an instructor is going to keep students engaged for the duration of a course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Gary et al. – Hope all is well. Here are some pointers regarding extrinsic motivation to learners:
• Give frequent, early, positive feedback that supports students' beliefs that they can do well.
• Ensure opportunities for students' success by assigning tasks that are neither too easy nor too difficult.
• Help students find personal meaning and value in the material presented in class and in readings.
• Create an atmosphere that is open and positive, so we can discuss issues and concerns.
• Help students feel that they are valued members of the class.
Regards
Tabitha,
Students want to be involved in the learning process and you make a good point about "hands on" learning. They need to be active learners and not just passive ones if they are going to increase their retention of the content and skills.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I find that the more hands on in the class room as well as in the lab helps them stay focused on the work. too many times I see students get discouraged because they are learning so much at an excellorated rate, when they are just sitting through lecture with out involvement.
Mary,
I am a big supporter of guest speakers and field trips. Both help make the content come alive and increase the motivation level of students. They help them see where they can go with their careers if they will invest the work that is needed for success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I like to have guest speakers and discussions on "real world" current events that pertain to the students' field of study. These strategies help the students move from the theoretical to the practical aspects of their chosen future profession.
