I really like your strategy. I will try this at my next course.
Marilyn
As a new tteacher, I have not been as free with the encouragement as I probally should have been. Teaching 5 week courses left be with little down time and I forget that they are omn the same grind
I like to start my program with 3 questions.
Why are you here?
What are your goals?
What do you need to achieve your goal?
I ask it retorically,ask them to write it down for themself, and use it as motivational when they start getting down.
I teach post secondary and find this is the first time that it is up to them to keep on track.
Hi Franklin,
Students really like success stories as you know. So the more you can incorporate them into your instruction the more you will be showing relevance and application.
Gary
I share my own success stories with the class and then tell them that I was also once a student just like they are now. I follow by telling them how I decided to become a teacher so I could share my knowledge.
Rewards for achievement work well with some, however, constant encouragement is often needed for others. Simple certificates of achievement or attendance make a student feel accomplished and motivated to do it again.
I am using the same strategy for the classes I teach, group presentation and simulations, and it serves another purpose for them to work as a team player.
By, Edwardo Mojena
What has worked for me as a professor has been putting my students into groups or letting them pick their own groups. This has increased their motivation by far because if one lacks in group the others motivate the others to strive to do better.
Hi Gail,
You have done an excellent job of laying out the recipe for teaching success. By planning for and completing the steps you listed an instructor will not only have success with students but will have a high level of personal satisfaction of a job well done.
Gary
By modeling professionalism, managing the course proficiently, and motivating the students through empowerment, I should expect good outcomes from my teaching and from their learning. My abilities to follow what is reasonable criteria and fair procedures will only help students to effectively measure and appreciate their own success, with the ultimate goal of applying the importance of what they learned to the workplace. Given this road map, I believe I can be enthusiastically aware of what I can contribute to motivate, to inspire, and to appeal to the students' needs in order to achieve their goals.
Hi Cristina,
Yes they are and the more we can incorporate them into our instruction the greater the retention rate is going to be for our students.
Gary
Sharing life examples, showing videos, playing games and discussing hot topics in research and the news are all motivating factors in the classroom.
These are good suggestions. Sometimes I will ask students to jot down their fears about the course, share them in small groups, then list them on the board. (I point out when someone has already said the same thing, albeit in different words, so we don't list it more than once.) Students are usually surprised to find that their classmates share the same fears they themselves have. It's amazing how this activity helps to allay their fears and establish a positive sense of community.
There have been many great posts concerning the use of differenciated instructional delivery and practicing of skills with learning styles in mind. There was also a post on assessment allowing for learning style variation. These are all wonderful ideas to take to the classroom.
When I plan activities to use in my classroom, I try to remember there are at least 8 different learning styles that we know about from current research. I try to plan activities to hit several of these during one classroom period. My class time period is four hours.
I always try to motivate my students with positive reinforcement and commending achievements...I make a big fuss over the highest graded exam in the class, each student week to week talks about earning highest score. I also give them good study habit tips...many students complain about not having enough time to study, i give them plenty of examples of a few minutes of short sput study times. Once they see how together we CAN make things work, I think they start to believe in themselves, thus motivating them to strive to success.
Some strategies that I believe will increase student motivation is to show euthusiasm as an instructor. Present yourself to the students as interested and motivated about the class and the course material. Also, get the stduents involved in discussions and activities that are going to draw them forward, in other words make them excited and interested about the course.
I make it silly and fun, while still conveying the message and instructional guidelines. My industry is supposed to be for the passionate and fun is a big part of that.
I want to have students do more in the classroom like answering questions individually and then discussing thoughts with the class, also more hands on in the classroom in small groups like ac system drawings in colored tape on the floor, (I teach air conditioning).
Those are three great question. This will also show the instructor if the student did any research on their program.
Hi Dianne,
Your course sounds like it is very effective as well as fun. You are offering a variety of instructional deliveries that keeps your students engaged and focused, which are two critical elements of teaching success.
Gary
