Some ways that I can be a motivating instructor is to exude my enthusiasm for the subject at hand, be supportive and encouraging to the students, provide regular and positive feedback, and help show the students how the material we are covering applies or will apply to their life and/or career.
I sometimes reference past students who have achieved success in their fields. I site specific examples that I know students have interest in and will strive towards.
Hi Willis,
The "life long learner" idea that you are sharing with your students is a good one. Students sometimes forget that once they graduate learning has only just started for them. If we/they are to be successful in any career learning must be a constant.
Gary
Professional experience is a great motivator. I do much of the college graphics. I bring the class members to the printer to watch the process of checking the job. And then seeing it run. It brings them full circle in the graphic arts process.
One of the challenges in the transfer of knowledge, is that as a teacher I have to prepare my students minds to aquire knowledge by imagining what possessing might mean for them. Also, letting them know that you are a 'life long ' learner yourself.
I totally agree with you. This is a rewarding experience, seeing the students motivated.
I give alot of feedback, support and encouragement to the students. I get a great deal of satisfaction when I see the students confidence build, and the gratitude they show in return.
Always enjoy learning.
Craig Oremus
Hi Danielle,
This is a great idea. The insight this gives you to the students is powerful in your planning and the development of rapport with the students.
Gary
This is especially true when teaching a writing class. They students need to be told exactly how they will use writing in their jobs. This means if you have students from three programs in your class, you need to identify how all three programs utilize writing.
I have the students write a journal entry describing why they have returned to school. I use this entry to determine what motivation they desire and I try to address all the factors I can.
Hi Victor,
This type of opening helps to get the students settled into the class for the day as well as helping you to get a feel for the dynamics that are going on. This will help you with the approach you want to take for that class session.
Gary
Is this the Robert Siegmund that used to teach at LeaderWolff Culinary Acadamy in Sacramento, Ca?
There are lots of considerations needed to be taken into account in being a motivating instructor.
Empathy, for me, is the best place to start. Get to know your students as human beings, make it clear that their success is the goal and you, as an instructor, are a support to get there from here.
Be consistent, even though all students are individuals, each student must be held to the same standards. This builds trust.
Treat mistakes as an opportunity; build upon what is learned by correcting the mistake as you would build upon successes.
Know and demonstrate your stuff, walk the walk and talk the talk. Demonstrate your expertise. What you teach them must be relevant, related and attainable.
Encourage student feedback and interactions, as instructors, we can learn from our students.
Be the leader a team that has the common goal of the entire class reaching their individual goals. Students learn from teaching, coaching and mentoring each other
All this and more
I often spend the first 5-10 minutes joining in on student conversations. We will talk about anything that has their interest. This begins the communication and opens the dialogue for the class.
Hi Mitchell,
Great way to use personal experiences to bring current instructional practice into the classroom. We can never forget what it was like to be a student and remember those instructors that impacted our lives and our learning.
Gary
I agree Steven. I let my students know that if they give me advanced notice (call/email me as soon as your tire is flat rather than waiting for the next class period to tell me why you were absent) then I am more than willing to work with them by shifting deadlines, giving make-up assignments, etc.
They'd have to do the same for work, after all.
I don't spend a lot of time lecturing. I will give a mini-lecture, then set the students up in groups to process the objectives via an active learning experience. This meets many of the retention strategies discussed in the module. The students get the opportunity to get to know one another better by working in small groups, they are applying the concepts from our reading into a more "real-life" scenario, and that active process helps them with retention.
We wind the group activities up with a discussion of what we discovered to wrap up the process.
Absolutely Rosie! One of the things I've held over from my days of teaching high school is moving around the classroom quite a bit- there, it was a classroom management technique, really, but I find that it adds a dynamism to the classroom environment.
I know its been a good lesson when I'm a bit sweaty after class from moving around so much :)
I’ve always been enthusiastic about the field we educate our students on. I share experiences, current trends in the industry and how these trends apply directly to the students and their possible careers.
I can be a motivating instructor through showing true passion and excitement about the subject matter. I choose to lead by setting the example and not allowing myself or my students to lower the bar of expectations. My enthusiasm is very contagious leading to students whom are motivated to learn.
