Hello Sheri,
It is nice to see a program director that understands and believes in this concept. While I truly enjoyed my studies in my BSBA and my Executive MBA, I have found my real passion is in motivating students to further their education regardless of the program they have selected. Returning to school later in life made a remarkable change in my own view of myself. Fortunately I have program directors that believe as you do ad have allowed me to truly fall in love with teaching the new students how to be successful in the online learning atmosphere and use of the MS Office programs that they will be expected to use with their work.
Outside of raising my own children, teaching has provided me with the most fulfillment in life. I never knew where my niche' truly was. Now I do. Thank you!
As a program director I look for the instructors strengths and passion in a subject. If they teach were their passion is, the students will be more receptive to learn, compared to a instructor who isn't strong at a subject they are trying to teach, they will have a hard time keeping their attention and willingness to learn. Instructors passion shines when they are teaching what they love.
Rosita,
Yes, I agree with you about maintaining enthusiasm even when we teach challenging courses. I found the same thing that it is a good idea to include some interesting or 'fun' activities. This helps to keep students interested and gives additional motivation for them to continue with the course.
Instructor enthusiasm is important for student retention because the instructor is looked up to as a leader and authority figure by students. They sense and feel the passion and enthusiasm from an instructor toward them and the particular subject they are learning from an instructor. If students feel enthusiasm about the course material, then they are more likely to find interest and enthusiasm toward it as well. In other words, an instructor ‘sets the pace’ in the classroom and encourages an interest in the subject matter by her attitude toward it and the students. This encourages student retention because it encourages and motivates them to continue to learn the course material.
I think that the importance of instructor enthusiasm can't be overstated. I really love what I teach (pastry/cake decorating) and I hope that my passion for it comes through for the students. When I was a student in culinary school, I remember which chefs seemed genuinely interested in the subject, and which ones were simply going through the motions. Not surprisingly, the ones who put their heart into the lesson were the ones who inspired me the most.
I think that when a teacher shows that they are really excited about teaching and showing help to the students then that would make the students want to get more involved in the class. Students wouold at least know that the teacher cares and is willing to help them on all levels.
Hi Margaret,
Right you are. Sounds like your class would be fun to attend and effective in learning. Keep up the excitement!
Gary
I think enthusiasm is THE key ingredient in effective instruction. As with laughter, enthusiasm is "contagious" and it bursts from every part of us and infuses those around us. An enthusiastic instructor = enthusiastic students!
As an instuctor, Ive always believed in leading by example. Regardless of topic, your enthusiasm for your lectures can help students remember very difficult material.
A couple of students came up to me the other day and said that they couldn't understand how someone loves anatomy and physiology so much. Its that same enthusiasm for the lectures that made the students apply that to real life situations and they get excited and giddy when they hear something complex on TV and are able to keep up and understand it. Those same students came up to me later and said they were watching TV and wanted to explain a scientifc part of the show to their friends because they understood it and were excited about it.
Instructor enthusiam is key, but must also be relevant. The instructor must gear their excitement toward the students and not just the content, and make the course topics relative and applicable to their students.
This is so true. Who wants to sit and listen to someone who has no real interest in what they are explaining? It is much more fun to learn about a topic that someone is fired up about. People wtih passion for what they teach are much more enjoyable to learn from. Even if it isn't a topic I'm particularly interested in, when the instructor is animated, I paid attention and learn more. I try to find something fun in every lesson I teach and find my own "wow" moment in my preparation that I can pass on to my students.
The more enthusiastic an instructor is about what is being taught keeps student interest level up. Sometimes it becomes infectious and students really enjoy learning and want to come to class. Incorporating humor along the way helps too.
I try to relate points in the textbooks and course materials to each student's specific situation. If they are currently employed, I encourage them to relate how the classroom material relates to their work situation. If they are full-time students (i.e., not working), I suggest that they relate the points covered in class to previous work situations or to the type of position they may aspire to in the future.
Agree. The level of enthusiasm is like taking the pulse of the class..
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for sharing your story with us. I can tell from your teaching experiences that you are a dedicated teacher that cares about her students. You are right an enthusiastic instructor that focuses on student outcomes is going to be respected and effective in retaining students.
Gary
The instructors enthusiasm and motoivation is catchy. Students see the instructor having a good time and realize that it is OK to enjoy learning.
Instructor enthusiasm impacts students not only in keeping them interested and motivated, but also can help connect on a more personal level. One of the methods I use is to tell students real life stories of experience. Sometimes in these, I get emotional and can laugh, get excited, and sometimes even begin to cry. It helps connect on a humanistic level.
When I first began teaching, I was teaching at a rural, public high school. I had a bachelor's degree in the subject area, but I had never taken a course on education or teaching. I knew I wasn't a great teacher and my students knew it, too. I didn't know enough to integrate different learning opportunities or address different learning preferences. We did book work day after day. However, I learned an important lesson over those three years. I realized that students will respond positively to an enthusiastic instructor and will work really hard. It doesn't matter if the instructor is actually a good teacher. What matters is if the instructor clearly cares about the students. My students knew that I cared, so they were more forgiving of my mediocre techniques. This truth hasn't changed now that I teach collegiate courses. I know that my teaching skills have improved, but I still don't think that is the reason students respond to me. They respond because I am caring, energetic, respectful and helpful. They work harder in my classes than in others. Retention is a natural byproduct of an enthusiastic instructor!
Gregory,
I completely agree with you that having enthusiasm can "save the day" with students. However, I've also seen the opposite affect. I've heard of instructors who are so wrapped up in their professional stories that they never come back to the classroom theories. The students feel frustrated because of so much story telling because it is no more effective than reading a blog about someone's day. So, my question is how we can bridge the gap between telling enough stories to keep the students engaged and telling too many stories that water down the curriculum. What do you think?
This is really important to keep in mind. It is easy to be enthusiatic when you are presenting a topic for discussion that you are passionate about. I am still working to create that when it is a topic that I am not so confident or experienced with.
