Instructors who are enthusiastic are usually more knowledgable about the subject matter they are teaching, and the students respond well to this. Using personal examples, sharing experiences between the student and instructor makes the student feel like they are part of the group.
Every day when I start class I tell the students how exited I am about what they are going to do and learn that day. I asign them groups and then asign the groups thier tasks for the day. As they go about their tasks I interact with them and keep them focused and having fun, often joking but always leading them in the right direction to complete tasks on time. The students enjoy coming to class so they are on time and dont usualy take time off unless it is a real emergency.
Just have fun and as a ground rule, ask your students to have fun too. Learning is proportionate to the amount of fun you have and how much you are engaged in the process.
It's okay to joke and be p.c. at the same time.
Create humor in the classroom, sometimes by poking fun at yourself. Bring up some topic in the real world relevant to the material being discussed in the classroom.
Hi Jacky,
Your students are fortunate to have an excited and motivated instructor like you. They know you care about your field and their success. The history and culture of cuisine is so rich that you can't help but be excited about it. Continue to have fun teaching.
Gary
My passion for teaching shows my enthusiasm with positive attitude preparation and compassion. the history and culture of cuisine is shared through demonstration and tasting
I do feel more of an actor then an instructor. I have to hide my feelings or emotions if I'm having a bad day. I always try to portray everything as "exciting and wonderful". I try to always set the tone right from when the bell rings. I greet them, and have them greet me back. Sometimes I tell them "I'm not feeling it", and I start over. My being animated gets their attention also.
If the enthusiasm is sincere and appropraite (not just being "pals" with students) is is invaluable
Enthusiasm is contagious. Excitment for material allows for further explanation and personal stories and experinces which ties back into course relevance.
Lead by example if the instructor is excited about the subject of study the students will be excited and willing to learn. Instructors need to be prepared and be aware. When the instructor looses enthusiasm the students loose the desire to learn and my become uncontrollable in your class.
Hi Patti,
Right you are about instructors taking content and make it exciting. What are some ways you make your content exciting for your students?
Gary
Frances that is so true. I teach Career Development, which is a passion of mine. The work is often difficult for my students because a lot of them have not been employed in a professional field before. So it is overwhelming to suddenly have to create Resumes, Cover Letter, eFolios, etc. But the feedback I get time and time again at the end of the course is my excitement regarding this subject motivates them. And the personal stories I use helps them to see that I wasn't so different from them earlier in my professional life. It gives us a bond. I find my students are able to achieve high results in my classes and they tend to stick it out instead of drop. I also learn so much from them which makes my job never boring!
Denise
Well, my thought is if the instructor is not excited about the topic, then how can they expect their students to be excited about it. Good instructors can take anything boring and make it interesting or at least fun to learn.
Hi Marlo,
Good comments. This is why instructors are such powerful role models. They need to be excited about their field, if not maybe they would be better off doing something else. Students like to see someone that is excited about what they are teaching because that helps them to create a sense of excitement for themselves. They see a future that includes success and respect for their field.
Gary
As a student, I remember having professors who bored me to death and a lot of that was attributed to the fact that they were not excited about what they did. Then there were other professors who were excited with what they were doing and that excitement was contagious; I recall being more engaged in the class and looking forward to going to class. An instructor's excitement about what he/she is doing, is relayed to the students who are retaining the knowledge and not even aware of it. By making learning fun and exciting the students become more engaged and are more receptive to the information being taught. As a result of the students being so engaged in the class and enjoying the material being taught by the professor, the students are more likely to continue with the courses. In addition to this, the students also form a personal connection with the teachers and feel accountable to them. So they come back to class and the try harder, they feel that the professor has taken an interest in what they do and they know the will be accountable for the type of student they are.
Hi Melissa,
Right you are about having a positive attitude and being excited. What excites you most as you approach the classroom and delivery instruction to your students?
Gary
Hi Cornelius,
Right you are. Instructors like this really motivate and inspire students to success. They are fun to be around and observe as they work with students.
Gary
I try to transfer my enthusiasm for my classes to my students; while I understand that not everyone may like clothing construction, for example, I try to come up with fun projects and mini-competitions to get all students involved. It also helps to show empathy: I let them know not everybody enjoys all the courses they have to take but they always learn something.
When you have a positive attitude it becomes infectious. Students look forward to coming to class and learning everyday, even with less engaging subject matter.
The instructor has to show that they are enthusiastic about the subject matter and they are very knowledgeable about the course.This shows the student that they will learn many things from the instructor. Student retention will be excellent.
