Having guest speakers come in and speak about their careers is huge. These professionals more than likely than not will promote a subject previously covered by the instructor. This increases the credibility of the instructor and motivates the students by acknowledging that they are on the right path.
One way to motivate is to grade a technique as opposed to a result, this keeps students focused on the point of the lesson rather than the recipe itself. For example, a braise can be properly excuted even if the flavors are not quite right, the lesson is still braising.
We also do role playing where I will allow students to go outside the school issued uniform and wear a suit or blazer when playing Maitre d' or Sommelier. The students enjoy dressing for their roles and feel important in them. I also read them excerpts from successful people in the industry such as Danny Meyer. Students seem to love to hear about how someone has made their success in our business.
There is one motivation technique that I like to use for a student who has lost their way. I like to remind them why they chose the culinary field to pursue. Additionally I have them picture themselves in the "capstone course" which is the restaurant class. Not only do I have them picture themselves I ask them to picture them serving and or cooking for their main support throughout the program and how proud they will be.
I log the RTC hours during the week that my students are requireded to do. Every Monday I post them on the white board and list the hours for each student. The highest hours, if transcripts are caught up, I give out a Starbucks Card. They like it. It engages them in a game. It is a Win Win situation
Connecting your course content to requirements of their chosen field. In teaching Interpersonal Relations, some students think they do not need the class because they are going into a more technical field. I was able to share examples from when I was a computer programmer when I needed to use interpersonal relations skills in dealing with the people using the programs I was writing, or in dealing with office politics, different personalities, etc.
By giving examples of my successes and failures in the field in a manner that the students can relate to have proven to be a great motivating technique to my students.
On site visit to local criminal justice venues, as well as visiting professionals who speak to classes about what they do motivate students to want to enter the field more.
Since I am teaching math there is no hands on experience what I have been doing is to give examples where math can be use and has been used for many years:
1)Math is the heart of computers programs and engineering; I give examples of position functions, velocity and acceleration, convert numbers between Binary. and base 10.
2)Marketing, finance and stocks uses math daily, and give examples about simple and compound interest
Hi Emilio,
Respect for students as professionals and providing them with "real world" opportunities are both great ways to help them make the transition from the school to work. This will build their confidence and self esteem.
Gary
Students need to see that what they are learning is of value to them in the real world. Using real world examples allows them to see how they may use the information you are teaching them in their future employment.
The primary way in which I try to motivate my classes are to make the lessons relavent to their future careers. Often I will assign project that require the student to investigate some aspect of their profession. Reinforcing the ultimate goal of graduating and starting a career can be a great motivator to our students.
Another motivator is to serve as a model. Telling stories of past successes and failures can be motivation to students that can visualize themselves in their future careers.
In my labs the students are treated as professionals and given tasks that are regular in the Real World, upon completion of the tasks there is instant gratification since they are able to see their work and hear the feedback of there success/not success. They feel that they are getting trained for whatever situation will happen in the field since they have had time to get their feet wet with the "Real World Projects"
Just getting excited about what you are doing and letting that excitment show will do a lot to energize your students.
Effective incorporation of professional experience into the course content, being understanding of mitigating circumstances in the lives of students, passionate and enthusiastic presentation of course content, and clear presentation of course content are all examples of motivational techniques an instructor can use in the classroom.
Hi Blake,
As you say pride and accomplishment are both very powerful motivators. By appealing to these you are helping your students to advance their personal career goals which will lead to a higher level of personal satisfaction.
Gary
To motivate adult learners I reinforce how effective each of our students will be in the performance of their jobs once they have completed the course. Our students do not garner raises or promotions based on the courses they complete in our institution, but they do gain a vast amount of knowledge that helps them at the work place.
I also appeal to their sense of pride and accomplishment and remind them of the fact if they do a good job other people will be safer and actually accomplish their organizations mission.
I have found that the best way to motivate my students is to show them how the subject they are learning relates to their careers and how it can help them advance in their careers. As a Human Resources instructor I begin the course by building the WIFFM and letting them know that no matter what speciality of management that you go into you must understand HR practices if you will lead employees. I have found this works best.
Hi Gregory,
Good way to make your course content real. By bringing folks in from the outside and letting them tell their stories you are helping to make the content real for the students. As you say you are relating your course to the work world where they soon will find themselves.
Gary
For my in-classroom students, I have them bring their student IDs to me at the beginning of class. I call the IDs their TIME CARDS and remind the students that in the work world, they will be on time, every day or they will probably be looking for work. I attempt to tie all lessons into the outside world and actively seek examples that allow the students to see how what they are learning will apply.
In many of my classes, I bring in outside speakers who work in various industries. These people talk about things that relate to education and usually will reinforce what I have been teaching all along. I find that the more different sources the students hear from, the greater the impact.
Finally, I always praise good work freely and publicly. EVERYBODY likes praise!
