Motivating your students
Motivating your students takes effort and you must love what you do because if you dont, it will show. You must also be prepared and show that you care.
Randy,
Your comments made me smile because I can see the shock on the faces of your students when you tell your story. They are setting there thinking they will never be able to pass this course and you tell them of your own experience. This makes both you and the subject real to them. Algebra by the name alone can strike fear in the hearts of students so the more you can help the students see that with hard work they can be successful plus humanize it with your stories the more engaged they will be.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Speaking of stories of past failures...I teach algebra and, on the first day of class, tell the students about my initial unmitigated failure in algebra years ago... now I teach the subject and am a civil engineer... who would have thunk!!
Phyllis,
I think stories like this are so important because they show the current students that they are not the only ones that are struggling with school, life outside of class and other barriers that need to be overcome.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
A lot of times I motivate students by giving them examples of other students in the past with difficulties and how they succeeded and sometimes even use my own past failures and how I overcame them.
Ginny,
Passion for one's field and enthusiasm for teaching it goes a very long way in helping students to be successful in the course while moving forward in their career development. We as instructors can not forget either of these elements in our teaching.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree if you don't love what you teach or do then it is time to retire. If you aren't good at a certain subject then bring someone into the class that is good as a reinforcement for you.
Sami,
Right you are. What are some motivation techniques that you use with your students?
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I so agree with this and to take it further as educators we need to be doing it at all times not just occasionally
Aki,
The more connections we can make with their life experiences and what they are studying the greater their learning and satisfaction is going to be. Also, they start to see the application and relevancy of what is being taught by applying the content to their lives.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Naila,
How do you provide motivational opportunities for your students?
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree, this method allowed my students to open up and they were able to grasp the material and focus on all assignments. Overall they felt that by sharing some of their life experiences I would see their motivating factor.
Martin,
Right you are. We need to bring our A game to the classroom or lab every time we teach.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It's not about the grade. It's about what the student and what they will take with then from their learning experience. Keeping their inrest in the subject is inportant. Keeping he engery levels high that is the key
John,
Students can tell if you are excited about sharing your knowledge and expertise. This sets the tone for a positive course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree. You must love your content and love teaching it to others.
Stephanie,
So true and so important to reflect as an educator. Our human side as well as our professional side need to be in balance as we work with students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
