I agree, I try to maintain enthusiasm in the class room by sharing positive stories from the field.
I believe we can bring our own excitement and passion for the field back to the classroom, and this will encourage and reinforce the students decision to pursue their careers.
I beleive you have definitely hit the appropriate topic by knowing the names. In addition to knowing the names, obviously we have to "use" them.
Motivating young students in teh automotive industry is difficult at times. I have found that when practical experience and lab tasks can relate the students can then see the value in the learning. Students must create the learning environment and utilize that knowledge right away before the thought has passed.
know names
intersting projects
I say there name about four times a seession-keeps them interested
the teaqcher mjst be motivated for the studennt to be motivated
It motivates the students when you can apply the lesson to their chosen professions. The student likes to see that what your teaching them is important to them and relavent to their needs.
I find that going a little off the main topic, but into a related area motivates students and certainly gets them to pay attention as the gears have been changed.
Group discussions. In class activities. A topic of interest.
Involvement in class activities is very important. Repeat often. It helps.
Hi April,
This is so true and so important. If we instructors don't have passion for our field and our students then we are just going through the motions of being instructors and our effectiveness is greatly reduced. Keep up the good work.
Gary
You have to have passion for whatever you are teaching first and foremost. I have always believed that.
Hi Jared,
You make a very good point. Another benefit of your strategy is that in the work place it will in many cases be peers that evaluate the a person's work. Knowing how to give and receive critiques is an important work skill.
Gary
Some examples are grades, using candy as prizes during games, or more opportunities in clinical when objectives met. Students want to know they are achieving in a systematic way through the course content often want validation that their progress is "normal". Letting somebody know you are available if they need to vent is often enough when they have multiple competing responsibilities...not that you can fix it, just listen.
Throughout my years of teaching I feel students get more motivated when they can apply the knowledge they have learned to daily class work and keep building on the concept.
Gary:
I think the best motivation technique I use is to create situations where my students get to motivate each other. Group projects or correcting each other's quizzes or assignments sometimes makes everyone want to perform better in front of their peers. Some students worry too much about judgement from authority figures, including instructors, even when an instructor does everything possible not to pass judgement.
I like to share examples of problems that I encountered when I was working in a shop, especially when I teach my class on customer service.
Because I work at an industry focused college, I find that if I can consistently show students how the skills they are learning apply to actual real world situations - they consistently take the course and the learning objectives more seriously. If there is an opportunity to take them to a local studio and meet industry professionals who are using the skills and are successful that is even better! The students really need visible and meaningful application - and often you can create a mock project or activity in class that reinforces what they have learned and the application of that in a real world situation - the students who do this are usually excited about the course and do well in their studies.
I see excitement in students when they apply what they have learned and the concept makes sense and they thuroughly get it. Kinestetic reinforcement.
Hi Dennis,
Thanks for sharing this great example of student success. Talk about relevant to the class and students. You were just getting ready to cover that area plus the talk about bonus dollars really helped to ramp up the excitement level. These stories always get me excited about how great it is to be an instructor and get to help students to achieve their life goals.
Gary
