Hi Jerry,
I believe this as well. Like many things excitement is contagious. We have it the students catch it and everyone benefits from the enthusiasm that results.
Gary
Hi Benny.
Your last sentence says it all. You really do get back what you put into it. By being well prepared and excited about what you are teaching you showing value to your students. They get excited about the course and teaching becomes easier and more enjoyable for everyone.
Gary
i feel that the instructors additude is the number one thing in the classroom and lab. if you are happy your students are also happy and enjoy being in your class. the engery of the instructor bleeds down into the students and if there is a class that has this combonation it will be very sucessfull
Instructor enthusiasm is key to have buy in from the students you are teaching. Passion about the topic being taught excites the audience and get them to retain the information being given to them. You really get back what you put in.
Instructor enthusiasm influences student retention by:
A. Creating a vibrant environment inspires the student to excel and gives them a model to follow as they learn to become technicians.
B. As the instructor displays a genuine interest in the field of automotive,students can envision themselves in a positive light as technicians.
This I feel is very important for the instructor to set the enthusiasm level in the class room. I have noticed if I have a high level of enthusiasm the class does the same. Your student’s energy level is a reflection of what your energy level is. Conveying this energy is a great way of getting the students involved. Students are more likely to stay in class if they enjoy what is happing in the class room.
Hi Fortuna,
Right you are. Teaching is hard enough so for a person that doesn't want to be a teacher it isn't worth it. They need to get into another line of work. For those that enjoy teaching that joy shows to the students and they get a much higher degree of positive responses from their students not to mention the satisfaction of knowing they are doing a good job.
Gary
Hi Mark,
I clearly understand your frustration with certain students that don't become engaged no matter what you do. I want 100% in my class with all my students but I don't get it. I provide support to all students and treat them with respect but if they don't want to become involved in the course content that is their choice as an adult. I don't let the few get me down or change my approach because I feel that it is their loss not mine and I am going to remain excited about my field and share that excitement with the class each time I teach.
Keep your positive attitude and keep influencing your students with your excitement about your field.
Gary
If the instructor doesn't care about the material, why should the students? It obviously isn't important enough for someone who is paid to care about it, why should they?
The instructor should bring an energy to the class and subject and feel it returned from the students.
I can remember back to my high school days, when the best instructors showed a keen interest and enthusiasm for their subject. If you can't be passionate about your subject, maybe you should be teaching something else. Your feelings about the subject matter reflect in your students.
If the student can see that thier instructor enjoying teaching they are less likely to quit.A teacher is a leader and if your leader is happy then that rubbs of on the student.
An instructor must be able to animate him/her self almost in a three dimensional state in order to be seen as an enthusiastic instructor. One must create a positive learning environment and bring down any learning barriers that prevents learning. Behavior is affected by attitude and it is contagious. Behavior is learned therefore it can be modified and changed.
Students tend to feed off the instructor. The instructor attitude has to have a high regard for the material they are teaching. If the instructor shows any signs of discontent or boredism students will follow their lead.
I agree, if you set a positive tone with your own real world experiences the class will pay more attention to what you are trying to say. They will also interact better when they feel relaxed.
I consider myself to be vey enthusiastic about the material I cover in my course however I still have retention issues. My excitment for the material is seen by the students that are set on making this field their life long career. It may be the material covered in my course, very much theory based and technical or it could be that they choose to wait for another instructor, I hear the complaints about other instructors styles as I am sure others hear complaints about mine. As stated throughout this course they are adult learners and along with being an adult comes responability, it may take hard work and long hours and todays youth think it should be handed to them exactlly the way they want with nothing expected on their part. I run around the room screaming with arms flapping to expain how something works and some students just dont care. The students who care are very appreciative of an instructor with passion for the material and will thank you for making the extra effort to help them understand.
Hi James,
This is a good point. With a mix of humor and some examples the students stay engaged in the learning process.
Gary
I like what you said about enthusiasm even when a class is seemingly boring. I find humor as an avenue to bring the. Class back from to interesting.
sure it does. the more fun i'm having the more the students are going to learn, the more excited they are going to be.
Instructor enthusiasm is in my mind of the key factors of keeping the students coming back. Even in the most boring of classes, enthusiasm can make it fun and keep the students interested.
I find that being prepaered and the class room set up (i.e. A smiley face on the board with welcome on it)helps the students feel relaxed and expectant.
