Maintaining enthusiasm every day for the student can be challenging, however, ask yourself why you are doing what you are doing and you get the right answer, the enthusiasm should come back. One of the most rewarding comments was that I was too energetic for a Monday morning, said with a smile.
Rebecca,
Thank you for these comments because they outline a great approach to instructional planning. Passion for one's content and enthusiasm for teaching it are two essentials for student success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It is a large part of student retention. If the material being presented is not particularly exciting it can make all the difference in the world. It can awaken students who thought the material dry, and can motivate them to value the content more. Enthusiasm and personal experiences give the daily lecture a new spin. Many students don't want the book regurgitated to them, they want to know what's the most important. They want to hear personal experiences told with enthusiasm. It can lead to an understanding of a concept or material they wouldn't have received by just reading the book or chapter.
Having said that, there are just those odd days when you have to FAKE it!! Thankfully they are few and far between!
Mabelle Joy,
I think you are really going to get great results with these efforts plus you and your students will get to share some enjoyable times together as you talk and joke with them. Helping them to get settled into the class each time is an important part of instructional planning as you have identified.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I learned new ways of applying more enthusiasm (on top of my personal passion to teaching) from this module, such as starting the class with a joke, greeting and acknowledging each student or asking for volunteers to share an experience that is related to the topic we will be discussing, etc. I will surely apply these new ways in my incoming class.
Sean,
Well said. Yes, people do like secrets and you are sharing one with your students. You are engaging them in the learning process and they are seeing how your content is going to help move them toward their career goals.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe that enthusiasm is very contagious and when I show enthusiasm for the material there is more acceptance and interest in the material. Everyone wants to know a secret, and a wonderful secret is information that is to be exposed in an interesting way.
Marilyn,
We need to bring passion for our field and enthusiasm about teaching to class. If we do these two things then our students are going to become engaged in the learning process and benefit from the time they spend with us.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
how true!! The student expects for us to know and demonstrate with enthusiam
Micki,
You are showing your human side as an educator and this is so important when dealing with students of all ages but especially adults. They need to see they are valued and respected for what they are bringing and contributing to the class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Micki,
You have had a range of educators from which you can learn and grow. You know which ones you want to model after and which ones you want to avoid being like. Set the standards high for yourself and work to constantly expand your expertise as an educator and you are going to continue enjoying teaching success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I try to greet each individual student as I arrive in the classroom on a daily basis. I ask how their day is going and if they saw or heard anything interesting on the news in relationship to our class. As I lecture, I walk around the classroom and engage each individual student in conversation relating to the topic of discussion. At the end of class, I remind students to have a great evening/afternoon and to come back the next day to see what I have in store for them!
I feel that if the instructor appears in class with a "I don't care" attitude, the students will adopt the same attitude. Over my years of teaching, I have 'shadowed' fellow instructors to get helpful hints for my own classroom. I have had the great pleasure of being with some instructors that had me on the edge of my seat waiting for the next 'thing' to happen. On the other hand, I have sat in on classes where the instructor almost put me to sleep in less than 5 minutes. These instructors never smiled, didn't have eye contact with anyone in the class, and acted as if they would rather be anywhere else but in that classroom!
Aileen,
You are a great example of someone that has passion for her field while being excited about helping to prepare the next generation of professionals to enter your field. I agree with your goal of being an example and sharing content through application. This is what good teaching is about.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Donald,
I agree that you need to have enthusiasm and passion in your instructional efforts. These two elements will help to "sell" the content for the students and they will see a model, you in front of them sharing what you know and how they can apply what they are learning. A win win situation.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think that one of the best ways to teach is by example. So if I m asking them to "look into" something, I also better be doing the same outside of the texts/lecture. It is always great when we come back and I may have found some of the same info my students did. I think this also shows them my passion and enthusiasm. I still work in my given field as well as teach...as much as I love teaching and still love my field too much to not be a direct part of it.
Whether you call it enthusiasm or passion, the instructor has to believe and relate to the subject matter. If you just deliver the subject matter, the student will detect the lack of interest on the part of the instructor and become detached and loose interest in their training. I try to relate my experience to the subject matter and the enthusiasm seems to be addictive!
Sonya,
So true and such an important part of being an effective instructor. Passion and enthusiasm are two elements needed for teaching success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
If the instructor comes in the classroom with excitement and full of energy and knowledgeable that sets the tone of the class environment. Also, by showing the passion of loving to teach makes a world of a difference.
Amanda,
Thank you for these comments about how to engage students. An instructor needs to have passion about his or her field and then be enthusiastic about sharing it. Both of the elements serve to "sell" the value of the course and show students how this course contributes to their career development.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
