Paul,
Like your "Come and join me in Learning" statement. This is what being in class should be about. A lot of college students pay tuition and come to college and once there dare any instructor to teach them anything. They need to realize that college is not high school and it is not compulsory. They are there because they have chosen to be and the course they are enrolled in is required because it helps them move closer to their career goals. If they get that message into their heads they then can enjoy the passion of their instructor about the field and enjoy learning what they are being taught.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Julia,
You are right about passion and enthusiasm. They both need to be present in the delivery of content by an instructor. Can't imagine teaching with out them because if they are not present then teaching is nothing more than just reading some information out of a book.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As Julia stated, 'passion and enthusiasm are addictive'. They need to include passion and enthusiasm not only for our industry and for teaching, but also about learning. At the rate technology is changing none of us can know everything about our subject or about teaching. Let the students see that you are still a passionate learner who is seeking to grow both in industry skills and knowledge and also as a teacher.
"Come, join me in learning," is an invitation most students will gladly accept.
Instructor enthusiasm is critical. Passion and enthusiasm are addictive… your students can't help but to become more involved and present in class if you are excited and enthusiastic about the subject/course.
Donna,
Yes it does. Being lead by someone that is excited about his or her field is a wonderful situation to be in. You are bringing that message to your students and they are benefiting greatly from your leadership.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Elizabeth,
Passion for one's field and enthusiasm for teaching about it sets the stage for learning success. You are bringing both each time you step into the classroom and I commend you for your dedication to your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Instructor enthusiasm greatly influences student retention; it sets the stage. The instructor needs to show he/she cares about the material so that the students will care.
I express to all my students how much enjoyment I recieve from being able to share with them the knowledge that I have attained. I always say that once I found this vocation it became a passion to me and I feel that if you learn you should teach and share the knowledge. They appreciate this and feel that they to can have this same positive reaction when they immerse themselves in their educations.
Leslie,
This has been my observation as well. It takes a blending of excitement and passion to be an effective instructor. By making the learning process fun and engaging you are setting the stage for positive learning experiences for your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As an administrator/instructor, I have an opportunity to view the different teaching styles of many instructors. I can tell you that those instructors that utilize both enthusiasm for the subject matter and the entertainment factor always have the higher marks when it comes to student satisfaction feedback. Granted, there has to be a balance of professionalism included as well.
Crystal,
Nothing wrong with having fun while you are teaching. I try to keep in mind that my adult students are really nothing more than tall children. My students like to play games, do activities and case studies. They get really excited when they get to work together and solve common problems in their field.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Barbara,
This type of enthusiasm goes a long way in helping students to see why they have to learn certain things in a course. They see your passion and then they want to learn what makes you excited about what you are teaching.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Maribeth,
So true. Passion for one's field and enthusiasm for teaching about it goes a long way in "selling" the course to students. We can have fun while we are sharing our content and our excitement will spread to our students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I also find ways to keep my classroom entertaining. It gives a little spark and out with the dullness of everyday class.
I just love what I do and I think that it shows to the students and my students are willing to learn but I must admit I teach a very intersting topic so it can be very easy to teach without the entaining aspect.
Agreed! It is essential for the instructor to be enthusiastic, delivering the material in a relevant manner, for the adult learner to place value on the content. Each class has its own boundaries for how "entertaining" and dynamic the lesson should be. Lesson plans that enable the instructor to stay connected to the students will dramatically increase retention.
Dorothy,
Good point about how an instructor should approach the classroom. Passion for one's field is a must. Teaching about that field with enthusiasm is essential and the combination is a formula for success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
If an instructor isn't enthusiastic about their career field, this may cause students to question whether or not they are making a good decision about the path they have chosen. A student who felt insecure and unsure of whether or not they had what it takes to go back to school may find the unenthusiastic instructor the excuse they need to drop out.
Paul,
Like the way you explained the balance of instruction and engagement. This is how you will keep the attention of students while moving the course forward toward the stated goals.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Oh it is a huge factor in the learning process. We need to keep the class engaged and entertained in our message but not so far as we are perceived as a clown. Ability to smile and make them smile while speaking about a process on how to turn in the weekly assignment will keep them more for lack of a better word awake. They will not be interested but will pay attention enough that they may remember how and when to do it.
