I try to find at least one thing on every assignment that I can comment on as being well done, or as an improvement in performance.
I also think it is important to relate the course to practical applications in work or life.
What are some examples of effective motivation techniques that career college instructors can use in their classes?
I agree. Having graduates from the school or program who are working successfully in the field has proven motivating for the students.
Being a Chef Instructor many of the skills that we demonstrate have to be precise and up to date. The ever changing world of Culinary Arts is forver bringing in new information, new methods of doing things and is much more necessary to stay on top of the new trends and technology. All of the new found knowledge is always shared with the students and reinforced with actual demonstrations. I make it a point to also show pictures, current news, and magazines to support my info. The students enjoy it very much.
Focus the course content on the goals of the student, make the curriculum real life - apply as much of the curriculm to the real world.
Explain the why the student needs to learn this info, and the how they will use the info in the real world.
In my class they have a capstone project to interivew a working supervisor, they ask them questions over subjects we have covered in class, they find out the info we covered in class really is used in the real world.
Honestly, my main technique for motivating students has always been positive feedback. I teach writing, which tends to be area that terrifies quite a few students, so I look for every opportunity I can find to simply let them know, either verbally or via written feedback on an assignment, that they are performing well and grasping the material.
With written feedback, I generally try to use the method of sandwiching negative comments between positive comments. I think there's almost always something good that an instructor can say about an assignment (assuming that it was obviously completed with some effort--assignments that are obviously thrown together at the last minute and without care, in my opinion, probably should not be praised).
-Erik
I challenge myself every day to find some tie-in for the students with the material we will cover that day. Sometimes it is great, and other times not so great, but they recognize and appreciate the effort which can be motivating.
Extrinsic motivation: by this the instructor should always tell the students how well they are doing; and how they can continue to improve.
The instructor can also tell the students where they stand in the course, this will make them study harder if they are falling behind, or not meeting their own expectations.
To motivate students to want to use the library is my first goal. Often, students aren't aware of the resources that the library offers them. How, I peak student interest in the library is to show them tools that can help them with their research. Our library website is structured so that each field has "Research by Topic" area. This offers students easy access to databases, the catalog, ebooks, ejournals, and what print resources the library has to offer. I also push that the library's website is availabe 24/7. This means students are able to get to databases, ebooks, research tools on the website that our web committee has put together, and ejournals. This helps students realize that they can research at a time that fits their schedules.
In the library, it's extremely important to movtivate students as they learn how to use the library's resources. If, they don't get a reward as they work, then, they give up. Yesterday, I was working with a student who was overwhelmed with the amount of resources available. I didn't get back in time to follow-up with her and she left the library. Later, another staff member encouraged her to come back to the library and I was able to work through this student's frustations. She ended up getting the resources she needed, she was more confident about using the library and also now knows to ask questions. I also tell students that there is no wrong question.
One of the most interesting I've seen is to allow students choices. For instance, they can choose from a list of readings rather than being assigned specific readings.
Students need to see real world applications for what they are learning. What they are learning in the classroom needs to apply to what they are doing and seeing outside of the classroom.
I teach computers and networking and I use as much hands-on training as I can. I use real life situations for the students. I dislike using emulation software that looks like the process but is not real. In real life you have real problems and that is what the students will need to repair.
Hi Dorothy,
This is so important. They do forget what brought them there in the first place. A reminder can get them to thinking once again about their career goal and how this class will help them move toward their career goals.
Gary
Hi Robert,
I think this is a great way of providing student support and feedback. Your willingness to include their work no matter the viewpoint shows that you are interested in them developing communication skills of the highest order. They should really respect your efforts in this area. This will pay off for them throughout their careers.
Gary
Hi Lynn,
This is what relevancy is all about. That student made the course come alive for your students. She was someone that had been where they are and now is where they want to be. She gave them a vision that they could use to shape their own future.
Gary
It is always helpful for students to know two things: That the end game is an actual career, and that you have seen others that are similar to them succeed in on this path and in the career. They need to know that the goal is real, and possible.
Reviewing lecture the day prior so that the instructor provides clarity is one way to motivate students. Showing empathy for a student that is forced to take public transportation and is 5 minutes late everyday is another way. Walking around the lab during production and showing expertise by physically showing students how to improve on the skills they are practicing is another.
One of the things I use to motivate students is asking them to relate what they have learned to what they have experienced. I validate their work/life experience as an important contributor to their success. A simple way to motivate students that should never be forgotten is a simple "Excellent" or "Great work" on their papers. I have always done this and thought for a while that it was maybe hokey. However after listening to students as they were leaving my class room I realized that simple praise for good work never goes out of style and applies to all ages.
I continually try to get students to remember why they came to culinary school in the first place. For most of them, it was because they wanted a change in their current situation, and they wanted to pursue something they love. This is especially helpful when the student feels discouraged after a difficult practical or a hard day; reminding themselves of all the reasons they chose to go to school is sometimes their best motivation.
