Motivating Short Timers
I'm just wondering if anyone can give me some suggestions for motivating students who are at the end of their curriculum to maintain a high level of quality in their work.
This is a great idea, I also like to allow them to focus on assignments they feel they need improvement on, and spend less time on assignments they can demonstrate a mastery of.
Hi Steve,
Your timing is perfect in terms of bringing in the professionals in at the end of the course and having them talk to the students about their soon to be graduation. This gets them fired up and ready to go out and be successful.
Gary
Short-timers can be distracted by lots of things. The course may be long and they may be bored, but I find them easily excited by the coming prospect of graduation and (usually) higher wages! At this time I like to introduce professionals in their field to keep their interests. Discussions about job requirements, openings, possibilities for their futures seem to keep the excitement going. I try to rebuild that same focus and energy they had in the beginning and apply it towards the finish line. The visit doesn't even need to be long or involved, and I have found that short visits from former students lend a BIG dose of reality and "I can do it" to students at this time.
This is a great idea. What are some examples of the different evaluations that could be done? Could you offer some suggestions? We use guest speakers frequently. The students also go into the field with an Instructor to work as volunteers at events. We even have them focus on their own personal goals. Much of this works to some degree. But, it couldn't hurt to broaden our capacities.
Involve them in oncoming students, in their education, so that they can share their experience and their skills with new students
Hi Attila,
One thing I do is to bring in professionals from the field and have them review the work of the students. This really gets their attention as they are close enough to graduation that want to put forth their best effort as evaluated by the professionals. Also, they see this as a way to network with the field so they really get involved.
Gary
I personally would have them re-visit their first initial goals that they have created in that particular class. Perhaps spice things up towards the end. Get more creative in assignments...
