First, for an instructor to be enthusiastic they also need to be prepared for class every day. If an instructor isn't organized and prepared for class student's are easily going to become disengaged. If an instructor doesn't emit the qualities of a professional and hold themselves to as high of a standard as what we're holding our students to, students will begin to withdraw and disengage.
An instructor influences student retention by preperation, high professional standards, and being able to be excited about class material because you've prepared for it and are eager to share your knowledge with your students.
Dodi,
I agree because it doesn't take them long to see when an instructor is only there as a "space heater" rather than a dedicated professional educator. Passion for the field and enthusiasm about teaching the content are two elements that help with both teaching and learning success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I strongly believe that the students can tell if you are passionate about what you are teaching. I try to stay up-to-date on materials in my field by volunteering in offices. I also tell students stories about my experiences in the office and they seem to love that the most.
Vaughn,
In one sense it was good you had those unenthusiastic professors because they gave you a model not to follow. It was painful when you were in their classes and I am sure time dragged each and every class session. By having enthusiastic professors you know how to model your own instructional delivery. We as instructors need to bring to the class each and every time it meets passion for our content and enthusiasm for sharing it.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
When I was going for my bachelors and masters degree I had a couple of really unenthusiastic professors, real snoozers. You already knew that you didn't want to go to class because you knew what it was going to be like. I vowed that if I ever taught I would do everything in my ability NOT to be like them and I'm not.
I did have a couple professors that were enthusiastic. I found their class to be more easy going, more instructor/student interaction and I enjoyed the class a lot more.
Students want to take classes where the instructor is enthused. Enthusiasm breeds enthusiasm and that's what I like.
Jan,
Can't say enough about modeling. It is a powerful learning tool that we instructors use in everything we do. Our students are always watching us so we need to always reflect professional behavior and help shape they way they see themselves fitting into their field.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
We all know that chidren learn from modeling the behaviors from others especially from their care givers and those whom they admire and respect. That also holds true to adults. Our students model our behaviors and our attitude. Our enthusiasm in the subject that we teach and in the field that we are working in will provide a perfect example in the future career field that our students will be entering. I cannot think of another way to get our students excited about their career choice than the example that we set in the classroom.
Charles,
We need to bring passion for our field and enthusiasm for teaching it to our classes each time they meet. You are right, if we don't seem to care it is for sure our students won't either.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The more excited you are about a subject, the more the students are willing to learn. Students do not enjoy listening to someone who does not care about what they are talking about.
Molly,
We need to bring passion for our field and enthusiasm for teaching it. If we aren't excited it is for sure the students won't be. The use of stories from the field is a valuable teaching tool because as you already know students really perk up when you share your experiences with them. These stories help to make the content real and increases the value of the learning effort for the students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The instructors tone and energy level is the cornerstone of how well a class session will be. If the instructor exudes with high energy, is, organized, knowledgeable, and allows the students to be active in their learning the return will be that the instructor has influenced the student retention successfully. The instructor is the leader of the class and if he/she is enthusiastic about what the students are about to learn the students will likely follow the lead of the instructor and become enthused about learning the material.
By being enthusiastic and excited about a topic it tends to rub off on the students. Especially in career colleges. As a dental assisting instructor I like to tell fun stories of happenings in offices I worked in. It really helps to get students excited about working in a dental office too. And as a result they are excited to learn all they can to succeed in that office!
Frances,
Yes, it does. An instructor needs to bring passion for his/her field and enthusiasm for teaching it each time the class meets.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Robert,
Right you are. If you are not excited about what you are teaching it is for sure your students won't be.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It catches the students attention from day one. If they can see the enthusiasm it makes them want to learn.
enthusiasm has a major impact on retention why because students see how excited you are about teaching and that make them want to come to school to learn and they are excited as well.
Cory,
I am ok with being perceived as over the top in terms of passion for one's field. I would much rather be perceived that way than students thinking I don't care about what I am teaching. Keep you passion fueled at the level it is. It is a fact that if you are not passionate about your field and show no enthusiasm for teaching it the students will not be excited about being in the class. You are right about students seeing lack of emotion as being the same of lack of knowledge. We can change that through our excitement for delivering our content.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I am so passionate about what I teach, and so hopefull that my students will be infected by that passion, that I think I sometimes border on "nut case" !
BUT, I have overheard students speak of other teachers, who I KNOW are incredible subject matter experts, but exhibit little passion, with the point of view that their instructor is "boring" or "doesn't know what he's talking about"
I find it amazing that a lack of emotion in the classroom can be construed as lack of knowledge!
Jack,
How do you generate enthusiasm for your content and with your students? Thanks for your input on this.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
well if they are enthus they will want to come and learn and stay in school. this is one of the number one ways to keep your student retention.
