Hi Kerstin,
You make a number of good points about enthusiasm. Without enthusiasm it is hard to ramp up students and get them excited about they are learning. By being the "leader of the band" you can keep everyone moving in the right direction.
When you may not being feeling the most up about the class I would suggest that you do group learning or activities. I have found that these sessions general good discussion and before I know it I am excited about what we are discussing. This way I'm not slogging through a lecture that is boring the students and dragging on.
Gary
Enthusiasm, like a bad mood, can be infectious. While our priority is to achieve learning outcomes in our students, we are, at least in some small way, entertainers. It's important to grab and hold as much of the student's attention as possible when lecturing and conducting labs.
Over the years you often can gather the general opinion students have for various teachers in the school. I have overheard students expressing disinterest in classes where the teacher was dry and unenthusiastic when presenting the materials, even if they were very knowledgeable about the subject. Many of the most effective and popular teachers seem to be the ones the students perceive as engaging, funny and the ones who strive to make a personal connection with the students themselves.
I feel really lucky that I am passionate about what I teach. However, I do see on days that for whatever reason, I am not as enthusiastic when teaching (maybe a really bad day or a difficult personal issue) my students are notably less engaged.
I have a few methods, but wonder what other suggestions folks might have for increasing their enthusiasm on the days they "aren't feeling it".
Hi Randy,
Good point. I can't imagine teaching without being excited and passionate about my field. I do know that each and every class could be very long if I was just going through the motions as an instructor. Your last statement says it all. "Everyone wins!"
Gary
I think it is a huge factor. I could not imagine even attempting to teach cooking without possessing the love and passion that I have for the craft. I think if an instructor is uninterested and bored with their own material, it would come across tenfold to the students and attention span would drop rapidly. When an instructor is passionate it brings out the most from the students. Everyone wins!
Instructor enthusiasm is key to holding many a students ability to attend class. When planning lectures or demonstrations; imagining myself sitting in class from the students perspective helps me plan or deliver information that attempts to keep students focused. Asking different students 'loaded' questions that pertains to subject matter at hand-helps to keep the students on their toes in the event that they are called upon.
As an instructor you job is to engage the student. Being motivated and excited about your subject is contagious and will captivate your class and bring them in to the subject matter.
Hi Sherrie,
Passion goes a long way to help "sell" the career field and keep students engaged. I can tell from your comments that you are excited about sharing your knowledge and skills with your students. This leads higher student retention and satisfaction.
Gary
The instructor mood and overall feeling is projected to the students. If your mood is poor or lacking in an excitement for what you are doing it does effect how the class will look at a project for the day.
Instructor enthusiasm definitely keeps students coming back for more information. I'm a nutrition instructor at a culinary institute and I'm very amused with the comments and hang-dog looks I get as students come into my classroom. It's obvious that there are other places they'd rather be (like in the kitchen cooking!). However, I have a passion for nutrition (as well as good food), and look to students as my partners in the culinary industry and make that clear from the start. I walk into the classroom everyday with a smile on my face because I'm glad to be there and to talk with students about a fascinating subject. It's amazing how my attitude catches on - a number of students at the end of every term ask what the next step is for them to enter the nutrition field!
I teach a sales class. Going into the class, students have a very negative connotation of sales people and they are not looking forward to learning how to trick and manipulate people (aka, be a sales person). I let them know on the first day that I am a very successful sales person and I have been for 12 years. I let them know that good sales people don't actually sell anything they match needs. They I talk about the money that can be made. The students suddenly become very enthusiastic about sales. I think bringing your own field experiene to the table is invaluable to the adult student.
Hi Aimee,
Having a cheerleader as a part of your team is a powerful motivator. Many of our students don't have a support system that involves family or friends so an instructor is very important to them and their success. They do work hard to please an instructor if they have rapport with and respect for that person.
Gary
Enthusiasm is key in retaining successful students. I tell my students that I am their cheerleader and support system. In addition, I tell them to abuse me for the time they have me. This meaning to ask me as many questions as they can. I always give positive and timely feedback. This also aids in student retention. In fact, my students always tell me how nice it is to have a supportive instructor who cares about them. By using these methods, I feel that my students are afraid to let me down. Therefore, they work harder and are more successful.
Your enthusiasm is often reflected in your students. If you are not excited about the material, how can you expect your students to be? Enthusiasm should be and can be infectious. We need to look at different ways to approach and present the material to keep or enthusiasm up. It is easy for our enthusiasm to drop off if we have given the same lecture and presentations numerous times, but we have to remember that this is the first time these students are getting the information. We should continually try to find new and interesting ways to present the material to keep are enthusiasm up, and that should be reflected in our students' enthusiasm.
Hi Anthony,
Good comments about enthusiasm and passion for one's field. Yes, some students don't want to be there. We can continue to work with and support them but in the end it is up to them. Success really is their choice.
Gary
By being enthusiastic in the room this will allow students to see that the instructor enjoys what he is doing and he will do a better job. I have found that depression breed more depression so to use excitement breeds excitement.
Enthusiasm needs to be genuine. Instructors need to have a balance of enthusiasm, subject knowledge, teaching technique and class environment. These are all important for the student to buy in. Even last night I had one student that just did not want to be there no matter what I did. Sometimes you just have to let them get through the class on their own. So you do not distract or neglect the rest of the class.
Instructors have to be able to show enthusiasm by showcasing care, respect vis-a-vis the students. Also, you need to be passionate about the materials presented to class, every day, so you can not just motivate the students' attention, but give them a reason to come to class every day, as well. Most students wake up every day and think/look for reasons to come to class; if they do have fun and being valued in your class, they will show up to class daily, and be participative to class discussions, presentations, and lectures. That is the best way to influence retention in the classroom.
Instructor enthusiasm peaks student interest in the class and material. If an instructor shows sincere excitement related to material covered the students will likely stay more engaged in the discussion, stay awake and better retain information presented.
I think more and more students crave entertainment in all things. I'm not much of an entertainer - I don't "tell jokes" very well, but I keep everything light-hearted and enthusiastic. I try to harp on the positives more while warning about the negatives in any lecture. I try to inject humor whenever possible. My enthusiasm makes the students more interested, I think, and with that they pay attention more and are more likely to attend a class that's "fun", or at least not dull. I think students connect better with instructors that are enthusiastic about the course and career, since we're essentially "case studies" for them, offering a glimpse into what their future and career may hold in store.
Hi Janet,
You are on the right track with your questions and use of different strategies to engage and excite your online learners. We are still learning how best to impact students through online technology even though online learning has been around for a number of years. The key is to get the human factor across in a technological environment. All of us that teach online need to continue to share information so we can develop a host of "best practices" that will work for instructors.
Gary
