Sharing of real life experiences and drawing a parallel to the information being taught seems to stimulate interest in knowing more information.
Willy,
Mistakes are sometimes the most effective way to learn a lesson. As a tradesman I know this for sure. By helping your students to see the value of what they have learned from one of their mistakes you are showing them the way to a more enhanced career path.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I try to give them the benefit of my mistakes and my lessons learned. I always tell them that in their future careers, a good technician will not only learn from their own mistakes, but also from the mistakes that are made by others.
Levon,
You make a very good point. We need to bring our passion for our field and excitement about teaching about it to class each time it meets. To do less is to deprive students from the maximum learning they can receive from their instructor.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Motivating instructors tend to be optimistic, friendly people. I believe it is very difficult to "act" as a motivating instructor if you as a person are not a positive, confident, happy person. Motivating instructor should "resonate" positive energy to the rest of the class, should encourage and motivate students throughout the lecture...
Michelle,
Passion for your field and enthusiasm for teaching about it is the connector for most students. You are in a position to really impact their lives and help them see the value of the content being offered and the applications of the material being shared.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I can show the students my enthusiasm of our career choice. If I speak of experiences I have seen and have experienced, this allows them to seek more information regarding topic. If they see how things are handled or could be handled differently they realize it is ok to make mistakes but learn from them.
Dominick,
As you have experienced students really perk up when you share examples from the field with them after covering a topic. The more connections you can make between the content and the field the better. Keep up the sharing.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Including real life experiences, offering field trips, or showing a movie or video once a term.
Daniel,
Like your approach. We need to maintain the standards of our respective fields. To do anything less is to cheat our students in terms of their training and preparation.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Know my course material very well. Then set the bar/standard high by example and then encourage students to work beyond their comfort zones
I strongly agree. I find that when I teach topics that I am excited about, my students are more motivated to learn it. Simply because of the excitement and energy I use to explain a concept.
I always make sure I relate interesting topics or experiences to the course study. I pick interesting topic to make them focus and retain the info provided by myself but I also engage with my students. You must break up the lecture along with some games
I do not have a problem with motivation. Have a problem with the projects and being on time.
LaShonda,
Like the different strategies you are using with your students. Each of these elements will help the students to see the value of the content being shared and how it can be applied to their career preparation.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As an instructor I enjoy encouraging my students to share their own learning expectations and goals related to the class been taught. I also enjoy providing real life applications through role playing activities.
Brian,
This is a very good point. I think an instructor needs to have passion for his or her field and enthusiasm for teaching about it. Both of these elements help to contribute to the excitement that students can experience and that is when being a learning leader takes on a whole new level.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I find that if I show enthusiasm about the topic that I am teaching, the students are equally motivated to learn. They sense that what I am teaching is important and relevant and is applicable to their careers. Without enthusiasm, the students shut down and sense a lack of relevancy for what I am teaching
I motivate my students by expressing and demonstrating the enthusiasm and passion I have for my profession. I continue to share my day to day life experiences in the field and allow my students to engage in discussions about my daily patient care.
Wendy,
Your approach helps students to take control of their future in that they get to shape their grade as you mention. This also holds them accountable for the results since they made the choice. As for sharing your stories from the field I am a big believer in this. These stories help to make the course content come alive. As a retail manager full-time you are able to bring to them experiences from each day that can help them to grow and gain insight into their career area. This is making it real for them.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
