Motivation is a very exciting term to me. Motivation is very much needed in the classroom in order to drive the students toward success. As instructors we are to take the initiative toward leading correctly each student in a direction where success is waiting and failure and slacking is not.
By taking the time to present yourself as an individual whose been where the students are now, you are showing that you are human and you know what it is like to struggle and become frustrated. Even though the challenges come you never gave up and you pushed your way to completion. Another motivating factor presented by the instructor is goal setting. Each student should be required to set goals and keep a goal setting journal. Setting a marked target and taking the steps to achieve it is very motivating. The end result for the student is completion of the class with a passing grade, confidence, and the ultimate achievement is GRADUATION!
Enthusiasm is another way of motivating a student. There is nothing more difficult than sitting in class with a very plain/dry instructor with no pep. As instructors we need to have excitement in the classroom, the activities assigned, and lectures given. Just walking into the class and presenting yourself with a smile and excitement about each student being there for class will make all the difference in the world.
Alfonso,
The more "real life" you can bring to the classroom the easier the transition to employment is going to be for the students. Keep up the good work you are doing making it real for them.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I agree Mary. We have to be availble and listen to our students. We must know our students.
Alfonso
I use real life examples and explain them in a way that all students can understand and relate to thier experiences. This tends to make the
students respond using their perspectives.
Alfonso
Michael,
Good example of providing support when needed to get a student one step closer to her career goal even though she was struggling with some major life issues. As a result she has a positive impression of her college and the instructor (you) who helped her. As a result the chances of her continuing her career course is greatly enhanced. Keep up your good work and I wish you continued success in impacting lives.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Some ways that I can be a motivating instructor is to: 1) Show enthusiam in the content that I am teaching. When I teach a criminal justice course, I notice that I am particularly excited about the criminal court aspect of the course because I work there and can relate real world experience to the subject matter and transfer that real world knowledge to the students.
Other parts of the criminal justice system like the law enforcement or corrections I have very little working knowledge and real world experience of so the second thing I would need to do in those areas is: 2)thoroughly know my subject matter through study and through networking with my colleagues who are in those fields.
I am also a working adult who was an adult learner, so I know the life dyanamics that adult learners go through. Helping to take care of my late younger sister who battled cancer at the time that I was an adult learner was very stressful, but that has given me: 3) the skill of being empathic to my students. I've had many instances of demostrating empathy to certain students who are having rough terms due to tough life situations, and to think about what I went through as an adult learner and the kindness, caring and empathy that my instructors had toward me helps me to treat my students the same way. As I tell my students on the first day of class, life throws you curve balls at times and those curve balls don't care if you are concentrating on achieving your career goals. That's why it's so very important for the students to communicate to me what's going on so that I am in a better position to help them succeed.
Also, within the context of the class: 4) I give recognition to those students who have done a good job and deserve it as well as encouragement to those who need it. I'll never forget one student a few terms ago who was going though a life situation and wanted to quit the class just 2 weeks shy of finishing the term. I encouraged her to get the remaining assignments in and to at least come to the last class for the Final Exam. She reluctantly came to class and took the final exam. When I graded it, the points for the final exams together with the other points for her assigments and midterm exam gave her enough points to pass my class with a C-grade. Okay, not the grade that she expected, but she passed my class as opposed to not taking the final and failing my class. In my online comments to her when I posted her grade, I commended her by telling her what she achieved because she didn't give up and quit, and encouraged her to take that same attitude of perseverence into her future classes.
These are just some of the ways that I've been a motivating instructor - and through this online class, I've learned additional ways that I can improve on becoming an even better motivating instructor! :)
You need watch your students and be available when they need you. Sometimes your students just need to talk about what is going on in thier lives. You need to be there for your students.
When there is a very important topic that the students will surely encounter in the field, I always give them a scenario based on a true story on my part and tell them the story but focusing on their role in the field and how it could be fun if you see it one way while on the other hand, when you look at the scenarion in depth, they will end up feeling like a hero. Make them feel this way.
Telling my story as an instructor and providing inspiration
I try to motivate students by pointing out that what they learn in class will help them on their path to a successful future. I try to give students insight that their learning is part of their transformation; They can be changed with every skill learned and every encountered challenge.
As an English instructor I find that many of my students have very basic writing skills. They are extemely fearful of my class. By allowing them the opportunity to write in class, discuss and rewrite, many feel more at ease. Once this happens I tend to see them motivated for the next assignment.
Brian,
I like where you are coming from. We need to set the bar high and then provide the support needed to help the students get over the bar. Their competence is what is going to help them have successful careers so we need to do our best to reflect the standards of their field as we work through the instructional process.
Gary
I explain to my students that I will hold the bar high and I want them to hold the bar high for me as well, I make it a point to tell and show my students praise for a comment, test grade,showing leadership, being active in lab ect.I find that may also be a motivation for those that have troubles getting motivated.
Dress and look the part of being an educator in your field. Bring experience and knowledge to the class. Love what you are teaching.
A motivating instructor is one that allows you to know his/her journey in the field of the subject being taught. I teach medical coding and billing and i am constantly telling my students where I've been in this field, and the places you can go in this field. I'm also a student...in college just like them! I love to direct them to resources, organizations and material that is out there just for them. Higher education is always an option.I encourage them to let this be a stair-step to higher directions..
I try and relate both good and not so good experiences to my students to get them to understand the reality of the subject matter they are talking about. I always try and recieve ideas and stories from students when they apply. And I try and reward students fairly, by letting them sometimes work in groups and be somewhat more independent.
Thanks. You are right. The strike zone is the target and it is very narrow.
Curtis,
Good comparison. You just hope you don't "hurt" your arm and start throwing outside the strike zone with your content and instructional delivery. Keep up the great pitching you are doing.
Gary
Being an instructor is very much like being a major league pitcher. I believe we must be very intentional about our "pitches" in the classroom. To motivate students, there must be a great mix of sliders, curve balls and fast balls.
Curtis,
I like your list. This is good information for all instructors to be aware of and to follow.
Gary
