Hi Josh,
You are doing a very good job of coming at the students in many different ways. Your methods enable the students to express themselves in a both a personal and professional manner. By getting them to write down their goals they can see how they can shape their future by completing their training and dedicating themselves to quality skill development.
Gary
1. Remind the students why they are there.
2. remind the students that even though they may have a negative thing going on in their life they should enjoy and appreciate the fact that school may be the one fun and a possitive thing going on in their life.
3.I like to ask a lot of small trivia questions that relate to our topic. It promotes participation, especially from students that wouldn't normaly participate and creates some friendly competition.
4. I like to motivate students by challenging them to get out of their comfort zone both as a class and as individuals.
5.I have my students write down a list of personal goals they would like to acieve one, three and five years after graduating their program.
Hi Garry,
Thank you for this excellent example of how an instructor can be successful by developing coping strategies to overcome weak points in their abilities. You have done in a positive way that serves as a teaching tool for your students. The slide rule is great I was trained on one when I was in college. Brings back many memories of struggling to master the concept of how to use it. Haven't used one for years but sure I could because of the tremendous professor I had that made learning to use it come alive.
I wish you continued success in your teaching. I know your students will benefit from your direction, concern and experience.
Gary
Hi Kurt,
This is making your course "real" for the students. They see how what you are teaching them becomes an opportunity for success in their future.
Keep up the good work.
Gary
This module was very interesting, but my belief is that it overlooks one key element of motivation, the "instructors failures". We as instructors/teachers oftentimes will focus our strenghts on our successes. but little on what went wrong. In life, both personal and professional, success and failure is a part of the equation. Sometimes our guesses are better than most men's facts.
Case in point, I hate english and spelling! If it wasn't for a laptop with a spell checker, I doubt that I could spell my own name correctly. Stuff Japanese, German and Enlish on the same hard drive and there is no telling what you're going to get. "Garbage In - Garbage Out" comes to mind at present. But give me a slide rule, yes I still use one, and no, they don't require batteries. With this I can tell you the lift coefficient of a tapered wing at 300 knts. Or the distance=ratexspeed of any object. But unless you like reading 5th grade materal, don't ask me to write about it.
Many times my students will catch me misspelling something on the blackboard and laughingly help me to correct it. I keep many dictionaries in my classroom, supprisingly most of them are being used during the entire course. One young man on the last day of the class stated, "I really didn't know how to use a dictionary correctly until I came to this class". My response, "see, you learned something after all".
I take my students to local dealerships to see how important service writers are in the field.
normally the service manager gives a motivational lecture.It gives myself and the students a new outlook on the course.
Hi Erik,
Field trips really make it real for students. They see it as it really is and this makes for better understanding of what you have been teaching them in the classroom and lab.
Gary
Hi George,
Way to go in making it "real" for your students. They get to see the actual work in actual settings. That is as good as it gets for them because they will be there shortly.
Gary
we will sometimes go on field trips so they can see the field in action, with variety. High class, high volume, all different aspects so students can see what opportunities are out there.
I like to take my students to professional productions. I usually get contacted by local companies for PAs and I get my students involved early on in the course.
The students see what it is like and they tend to come back to class more exited.
Hi Gerald,
It does. I am always looking for additional information about how instructors develop rapport with their students. You have developed an excellent strategy for making the connection between yourself and your students. Keep up the good work.
Gary
In answer to your question, I attempt to ensure that each of my students are recognized on a daily basis (acknowledged, "stroked," etc.).
I find that in teaching Interpersonal Communications, relevant examples pertaining to my own life certainly help students to be motivated and actively engaged. Additionally, each student is encouraged to participate in discussions regarding communication topics and given the opportunity to participate and share. All students in my classes are encouraged to be accepting of others opinions, thoughts, and ideas.
Hope this answers your question satisfactorily.
Gerald Snow
Hi Brenda,
You are also recognizing that the students have had a previous life. Many times instructors of adults students treat the students like they have never had any life before their class. The students need to see how they can use their previous life experiences in class and benefit from those experiences. This really helps with developing respect and rapport with students as well.
Gary
Yes, I agree. I always incorporate Field Trips into all my courses.
By bringing the students life experiences into the classroom. These activities could include experiences from another school they attended, experiences in their family life, or even experiences in their career/job. This will allow them to relate both their academic and career experiences.
Hi George,
Great example of how an instructor can use his/her personal story to motivate and challenge students to achieve. They can see themselves in your story.
Gary
Being a culinary instructor,I always start a new class with a short personal introduction. I tell to the new group of students how I came over from Hungary as an immigrant, how I have started to work in a kitchen as a dishwasher and how I worked my way around to became a certified executive chef and a culinary instructor in a good culinary school.
I know my story motivates and inspires some of them, especially the ones with similar backgrounds as mine.
Hi Thelma,
What a great example of how an instructor can impact the lives of students. Your methods are bringing the real world into the classroom plus creating a connection to the lives of the students.
A great complement to you that the students come back just to keep you posted on the progress in their lives.
Gary
Reinforcement is one motivation technique. I try to give immediate feedback, by grading and returning papers the next class meeting. I also offer the opportunity for bonus points. I try to motivate students by giving relevant assignments, so our major assignment for English Composition is a restaurant project (describing a restaurant the student would like to own or manage and making a menu for that restaurant) instead of the traditional research paper. I do have them do a longer essay on any subject of their choice. I'm the only one who reads it, so if they want to tell a personal story of the trials and tribulations of their lives, they can feel free to do so. Some share heart wrenching personal decisions; then come by to share and keep me up to date on the situation. I think knowing that the instructor cares can be a big motivating factor as well.
positive feedback, flexibility, empathy
