Students willingness to learn
I believe that somewhere in the assesment process there should be some process by which an organization or instructor could be able to determin the willingness and not just the ability of a student to learn.
Many organization throughout the country use federal aid for single parents for example, or many students go to school to please parents, etc....
If known ahead of time, a special method could be incorporataed with those already discussed to draw these students in as well, therefore providing even the, "not so willing to participate in the learning process" the best available processes for learning and assesment.
Hi Thomas- In many ways teaching is a performance. As in any performance the goal is to elicit a response in our audience. With our students we eant them to become curious, interested and as you mention- enthusiastic! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Yes, I agree, students must have an inner enthusiam for th topic and passion, or they will not be interesteed in learning. The teacher has a lot to do with setting the stage: If they are enthusiastic, then the students will be enthusiastic.
I agree. Sometimes an oat of a different flavor is just what a student needs to be drawn in and take ownership in a course.
I agree. It's important for teachers to motivate students to learn and to make class exciting and educational. If we do a great job teaching, the students will want to attend class and it could change their lives forever.
Nathan
I like your sentence about good teachers make students thirty to learn and I would like to add that good teachers sometimes have to look for ways outside of the box to help students learn.
Hi Leslie- Thanks for your post to the forum. I find that the younger college students often suffer from the "distraction" you describe. Older students though can also be distracted by the stresses of their lives- children, jobs, mortgages, elderly parents etc. While we certainly sympathize with them, we also have to make sure that they make their education a real priority. It's a short term committment that will provide a long-term pay-off. Best wishes- Susan
I remember when I was a student in my foundation year, I was distracted always in my classes. WHether it was the opposite sex, being introduced to topics and ideas (not college related) that was fun and far more interesting. When I barely passed the course it was a wake up call for me. And I tried soo hard to concentrate on college work.
I only wanted to learn then when I knew I did it to myself and better education and study would make me more valuable in the long run.
In many ways I see students going through what I went through and I at least try and hint how the medium to long term must be life's focus and good old time management.
Hi George- Thanks for your post to the forum. This is indeed one of the most frustrating problems we face as teachers. I find that it most often occurs with traditional aged students who are just not ready to continue their education. At my college we do everything we can to help them but occasionaly we "counsel them out". It just seems wrong to continue to take their money when they are not getting anything from it. Hopefully they will eventually re-enter and be successful. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I agree it is difficult to make a student learn the material if there is no willingness to learn. Especially if they are only there to kill time or make someone else happy. The truth is that we can't make them learn, we can "salt the oats" and do what we can to make them thirsty to learn, but that only goes so far with some students. I think the ones that don't want the help, refuse to learn, or will not help themselves ultimately have to be left behind. You as a teacher can only do so much before it starts to affect the rest of the class.
I feel as though learning is a process and it should have some degree of difficultly, it is not just show up to class and expect to pass. That is a lot of the attitude and mentality that I see at my post secondary vocational school.
"When the student is ready to learn, the teacher appears." How true. While we can't make the horse drink, we can salt the oats. Good teachers make students thirsty to learn.
Hi Charles - Oh if only we had that Crystal Ball! You are right - sometimes students are in our programs for the wrong reasons. The only thing we can do as instructors is to try to get them to get excited about what they are learning and what that learning can bring to them. It's an important challenge. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
