Hi Lisa,
Good methods to help with motivation. The key is that you are showing them that you care about them personally and this is so important to their success.
Thanks.
Gary
I have found that students are mainly motivated by their personal experiences. They want to change an example into a positive experience. In addition, they use their children, family, or friends has motivation tools when they think they can push through school anymore.
Encouraging students to share their personal experiences that apply to the subject can definitely motivate a student to participate more fully in their learning. They feel they are a contributor and active participant in the process and not just a passive lisner.
I agree Todd. We have clinical's and at post conference each student must share something they found new or interesting that day with the other student's.
I've had good success with small and frequent reinforcements. Sometimes it is the letter grade or just a quick note from me stating I was impressed or liked a particular answer.
Other ways I've motivated students is by asking them to help plan the flow of the next class session or to give them a competitive game to play. What I choose depends on the personality of my students of course.
Motivating techniques that I use are allowing students the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge on a topic. Oftentimes students have a working knowledge of a topic and provide time for them to share with the class. Students feel empowered and they are shown that I value their opinions.
Students can work on group presentations to demonstrate their knowledge. The feedback given to them shows that I care about their learning cababilities in the class.
Finally, being accessible when students are having a difficult time on an assignment. The students will call just to get clarity or reassurance that they are on the right track.
Icebreakers, powerpoints and games
your enthusiasm and personal stories about success, failures and overcoming adversity can all help motivate students to understand that you were in their shoes at one time and that they can accomplish the same things as you. Overcome any obsticles to their goals.
Hands on projects that allow students to show off what they have learned to their peers and teachers are a great way to motivate them. I also have created games where they are teamed-up into groups to deal with course topic related problems and earn extra credit points for winning. They more they study and review the course materials, they better the chances of their team winning the extra credits towards their grade.
I am always amazed and excited about how quickly my class learns their course material. Their retention of the course material is also great. I am always recalling information taught in the previous class by asking several questions at the beginning of the following class. My students are really on the ball. It gets me excited, and of course I show it by my expressions and by my congratulating their abilities. Of course, their response is so positive. It empowers them to be just as motivated in the following class.
Hi Kathy,
Good statement. Can you expand a little on it so I can have a better understanding of how you use motivation in concert with actions?
Thanks.
Gary
Having students brainstorm how their past experiences relate to their current learning experiences & chosen field. "fire drilling" situations helps students to think on their toes & feel good about their choices. Having students reflect on their initial inspiration in relationship to their current inspiration can be motivating for them to embrace the changes along their learning journey.
Motivation comes with actions
Motivation in my opinion is something that is demostrated and they take the demostration put in use and complete the task..Watch the light go on.
By inviting motivational speakers to class. Playing games, recreational activities, and having positive reinforcement.
extra credit - give -a-ways
Class and group exercises are a good way of keeping them motivated. Also, a great retention review on what they have comprehended in your class.
I have found that sharing some of my own examples of success as well as failure in my field provides the students with reassurance and comfort. this in turn makes them less anxious about taking risks in the labs and alows them to learn from their mistakes as well as failures.
I find that by using real-world experiences that relate to the topic being discussed really captivates the students. It also tends to make the students ask more questions, keeping up a relevant discussion within the class.
Then the students will see that there is a goal for them.
Examples of effective motivation techniques is to relate the discussion to my own personal experience and give students an opportunity to discuss their own personal experiences and what they could do different with their new knowledge.
