Diana,
Excitement does spread, doesn't it? We need to bring enthusiasm to the classroom each time we teach.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
If the instructor is confident and enthusiastic about the subject or career, then the students will be interested as well.
Students are new to their field of student, instructors could bring students to thier field of student just by thier enthusiasm for the field or loss them by thier lack of enthusiam. Your passion for what you do has a great impact on student retention.
When the instructor is excited about what they are teaching, it makes the students want to learn and be interested in the class content.
I think it is a lot about the excitement of the material. But I also think it's about making the enthusiasm contagious. The students will be so involved because everyone is enjoying the subject matter.
First and foremost, I believe the instructor must be an expert in the field. I couldn't begin to teach a course in geometry. A strong knowledge base plus enthusiasm and love for the field is critical for teaching. A teacher must believe in what they teach. Students will always figure out if you don't know what you are talking about.
It is simple, how can a student who barely know anything about a subject get keyed up about it, if the instructor (who the student see as an athority on the subject)doesnot get more excited than a slice bread. Students need to get and maintained excited regarding thier field of study.
Shalanda,
Your use of the crossword puzzles is a great idea. Students of all ages like games and challenges as you know. I use them a lot in my classes and my students are like yours in that they miss them when I don't have one for them.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
It is very important to teach what you love. When the students see your passion for the subject they can't miss class because they want to find out what is next. I often change up handouts to crossword puzzles. You would be amazed how adult learners learn words just by doing crossword puzzles. When I do not handout a crossword they are asking for them. Many of the medical classes include crosswords just so the students can find words and meanings.
Jessica,
So true and so important. We, instructors need to "sell it" in terms of our passion for our field and sharing with students.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
tHE INSTRUCTOR IS VERY POWERFUL IN CREATING THE INTHUSIASIM, BY PRESENTING THE TRUE AND EXCITING SIDE OF THE SUBJECT BEING TOUGHT.
If the instructor is genuinely enthusiastic about the subject matter it will show. It is hard to fake enthusiasm, at least over a period of several weeks. This enthusiasm has a tendency to "rub off" and the student will see that the subject matter can be fun. This in turn motivates the student to want to come to class, especially if the environment is fun and stimulating (thought provoking).
My experience with instructor's enthusiasm is this, when an instructor doesn't show enthusiasm for a particular subject, the students tend not to like it at all, even hate it. If practical skills are needed in that area, most students fail to accomplish the basic skill in that area. Now, when the instructor shows great enthusiasm in a subject the students are willing and eager to learn. They inturn show enthusiasm and retention of knowledge as well as excelled skill in the practial portion.
Making a class enjoyable and memorable helps all ages make a connection to the class and material taught. It doesn't have to be fun at all times, but students become easily bored if they are not engaged.
If the instructor is not enthusiastic about the course how can we expect the students to be enthused? If students are not excited about learning then they will be absent from class, they will not participate, and they will begin to question their decision to enter school.
Being enthusiastic about what you are teaching your students can go a long way. It can keep them interested which will keeps them coming to class. If you are not interested in what you are doing, with anything in life, you will become bored and maybe start not to care about it as much.
Enthusiasm of the instructor helps in retention of students by the attitude with which they carry themselves. An instructor who shows no enthusiasm for a. the class, b. the material, c. career field; is not likely to instill the enthusiasm needed by the student to be successful. Lack of enthusiasm can be seen by the student as an "I don't care" attutude by the instructor; thereby giving the attitude, if the instructor doesn't care, why should I. Positive attracts positive and negative attracts no-one.
If you are rnthusiastic it adds to their attention and - ideally- their interest in the topic.
It also adds to the fun of learning.
Instructor enthusiasm rubs off on the students and they like the environment they are in. Who wants to leave a comfortable environment. No one ever said that learning can't be fun. I try to incorporate fun into many of my classe. While this is not always possible on a daily basis, once the students know that an instructor is not always staunch and serious, they want to come back in anticipation for the surprise day. As an instructor, I feel that it is my responsibility to keep the classroom energetic. If I am feeling tired, they will reflect my attitude. I always attempt to come into the classroom with a new energy each time. Enthusiasm is like a smile, when you give it...you most always get it back. Many of our students come from a difficult life at home. The positive energy they get while being in school, in many cases, is all they get. If they like it, and it makes them feel good, they will want to stay.
Enthusiasm engages the student from the start of the class. Being excited about what will be discussed or what the students are going to do for the day keeps the student coming back to class.
