Listening to the student's personal experiences regarding the subject in question can be a very powerful motivator.
Motivating students starts with knowing something about the students. Positive reinforcement works well, as does changing the classroom routine from week to week. It is very easy to become very predictable as a teacher. Although routine is good, too much can be a hindrance to their learning.
Hi Connie,
I like this type of questioning and discussion. It really helps the students to analyze and come up with solutions to different situations. The Amber Alert idea is great because you get them to personalize it in the own lives and then discuss it.
Gary
I think making student think about a topic from more than one angle can help keep them motivated and thinking. One of my discussion topics centers on the, "Amber Alert," notification. However, instead of asking them what they think about it...I ask them what they would think if they were detained because they were taking a niece or nephew who couldn't talk to daycare and the police stopped them because they matched the description in an Amber Alert. The answer range from, "I wouldn't mind," to "I'd be upset...until I thought about it."
Hi Frank,
The way you are connecting their life/work experiences with what they are learning does in deed show relevancy. In addition you are showing them how they can apply what they have done with what they are going to be doing so they don't become intimated by the course work.
Gary
As a motivational tool I encourage an open dialoge with the students. I try to contact their work experience and knowledge to the subject matter. I try to create an environment where students can share their experiences and show the relevance to the subject being discussed.
I believe in getting students to share life experiences as well as showing relevance of what is being tought and how it can be applied.
Hi All,
Everyone has been sharing different ways to help students to increase their motivation levels. This is so important as the course goes on because they become tired and life starts to push down on them. This is when they need some help in getting their motivation levels back up.
Thanks for sharing these great ideas and keep them coming.
Gary
Hi Krista,
Great idea! Thanks for sharing it with us. Instructors are always looking for strategies to help them evaluate students more effectively. This method gives them opportunities to do just that by putting forth the effort to research a topic or subject and share the information.
Gary
People by nature are motivated by what will benefit them. If you can show how learning a subject will increase their wealth, status, or happiness, they will be motivated to learn more.
I believe having guest speakers or past students with similar backgrounds giving testimony of a living success story provides current students the ability to envision themselves moving forward with their scholastic and professional goals.
Sharing my real-life experiences and allowing my students to share theirs brings real-world application to the subject content.
Stay curious! When you run across something you don't know, learn it. My students see me constantly learning new words, writing new spreadsheets, or new queries. "Just for the fun of it". Constant experimenting. This commitment to lifelong learning is a positive example for many of them.
If you don't know something, admit it, look it up, and share it with the class. Your willingness to put in the extra effort, and to share that newly gained knowledge with them, can be motivational.
Challenge them. Give them a task they don't think they can do but you know they can. Pride in accomplishment is a great motivator. (Works great with individuals and groups)
This one is tricky. Real tricky, but works well if the student has respect for you. Show disappointment when they do not try to do their best. Do not be disappointed at failures, just at not trying hard.
Regards,
Terry
Students are more motivated and excited about a class when they have an instructor that shows enthusiasm and interest in the topic they are teaching. This is true as well with student feedback and if we are more positive or negative. When being more positive the student is likely to take the information and use it to their benefit. If the feedback is more negative, then they may start to put up their defenses and loose interest in the course.
One way to motivate students is to help them see that they are already quite capable and knowledgable. When they get a taste of their own success - they are able to apply class materials, they seem hungry for more.
I teach on-line. Generally, I do a pretty good job of motivating my students...however, in every class it seems that there are one or two students that from the very beginning are late with their assignments, don't do their discussion board postings, do poor on the midterm and then end up either dropping out or failing....how do you reach those students?
The most important is to focus on real world applications through discussions, course material, projects and case studies that the students can apply them in the real world.
Michael
I use research extra credit. Sometimes I get a question I don't know the answer to. I ask the students to research and turn the answer in on test day. If they get the answer correct I give them 5 points on the test. This allows me time to research the answer also.
I also like to compare each test with the next. To show their improvment. All my test are cumliative and so as their scores increase so has the retention of the information. I like to tell students that they are progressing well, catching on, keep up the good work,... I tend to ask questions they should have learned in a previous class during my lesson just to show how information connects. When I do and a student answers the question correctly I give them a point on the next test. I expect students to keep track of their own extra credit points and put them on the test. I tell them this is the honor system and students respond well to being trusted. This method even gets the quiet students involved because everyone has the same chance to earn points.
Students love to share their experiences. A little time given can make a great impact on participation.
using real life experiances used in my medical field helps student's motivation
