how to generate excitment in the material/course
Tell me about proven ways to keep students excited about the material and the learning proccess.
We often have to do review of content at some point during the class. I divide the cotent up by groups and the students do a presentation of the review material. They pay attention to each other much more than to me. Also, they have to know the material thoroughly to present it. I let them do it however they want. i have gotten some good ideas about how to present in an interesting manner from them.
This is always successful in the courses I teach.
For me the answer to this question comes down to showing students how they can use the information they are being given - what is its practical value? This is in part because I myself am older, and I think older students, many of whom have had jobs/careers before being in school again, learned not to value information they cannot use as much as information they can put into practice - use to solve a problem, get a promotion, impress their peers, etc. These folks (in my experience) tend to be less interested in just learning facts (and even less so, concepts). Here is where having a diverse mix of students (which I do) can be challenging.
Hi Joan,
Good advice! They need to see application and relevancy in what they are learning. This creates the connection and helps them to build their knowledge base.
Gary
First of all it starts with passion in you as the instructor. Then you need to add activites in and make sure you relate it to them personally or professionally. If they can see how they will need to apply it in their job they will more than likely become excited about the information.
Hi Patricia,
The use of former graduates is a very powerful way of motivating students. They see their peers being successful and they can see themselves in that role as well.
I use them in my classes as well with great results. They reinforce what we are trying to do in class.
Gary
Former graduates are invited to be a guest speaker. More students are focused when it is a former graduate than when a professional guest speaker is present. Hearing positive opportunities from a graduate brings excitement to the students.
The way I keep my student excited about the material is by telling them stories pertaining to what ever I am talking about. I believe if that is done the student will not be bored and not only that they will remember the material better just by the story that was presented during lecture.
It helps students to be motivated if the instructor is truly motivated about the subject matter too! I am always looking for ways to improve an assignment and to keep the students engaged. I am always trying to break up routines to help keep the students energized. However, this sometimes bothers those people who feel they must keep to a routine!
Hi Dale,
Right you are. This helps to bring the students into the sequence of the course and raise their morale level as they see how they can still be successful in the course if they put for the effort.
Gary
I have done this periodically without really thinking about it. What a great idea to purposefully remove an assignment that a majority of the class did poorly with. Especially down toward the end of the term. This definitely boosts morale in the class.
This is a great idea - one that I think would work really well in one of my courses. What is the best way to choose who leads the class and do they excell when having the entire class period or just a portion?
Hi Al,
This is a great way to hold students accountable for the knowledge they have acquired. By letting them take the lead and you participating you are giving balance to the class while letting the students show their stuff.
Gary
Refocusing with a completely different teaching style goes over the training in a different manner such that the student may pick up points that didn't hit home previously.
I have found that when I let a student conduct the class in a workstudy that I pass out, I get the full power of peer learning. The students must put the page number with the answer, and if the student conducting the class, has a different answer they refer to the page where they found the answer. I forgot to tell you that when the student that is going over the workstudy with the class, I sit in that students place, and I have to take my turn. I find that the grades go up and the class gets involed with the class.
Brad:
I think it is important to refocus at some point in the class. It is human nature for any pursuit to become too routine after many repetitions. I like to shake things up at some point by surprising my students with some totally different method of presenting content with a game or similar technique. Sometimes, it is just hitting them with the previously undisclosed intention to drop the lowest score on one of their projects. I don't disclose it earlier on, but they are suddenly relieved to know that one project on which they did poorly is not going to count towards their grade.
Hi Brad,
Passion on the part of the instructor. Willingness to change directions as needed to keep students engaged and forward focused is essential. Games, learning groups, structured outlines and guided notes are all proven ways of keeps the excitement level high and the students learning each time the class meets.
Gary
