I begin with my background and personal stories that connect with the course. I use a lot of humor when talking about things that have happened on the job. I have the students introduce themselves and talk about their jobs and how it relates to the course topic. I keep the class active and engaged through controversial discussion.
I use a variety of activities to get the students involved. I use small groups, individual, role plays, and provide several examples to assist them in understanding the material.
Hi Belinda,
Connect the theory to the application. Show demonstrations as much as you can while presenting theory. Use PowerPoint presentations, group activities, lots of visuals, etc. while lecturing.
Patricia
Hi Woody,
We use a PowerPoint presentation for every course that expresses why students must take the class and the type of jobs students can serve in just from the class/program. Students become really excited having learned this information.
Patricai
I teach cosmetology, most of my students are already excited as well. The challange is keeping them excited about the theory content. I try to connect the theory to the salon environment and how it will benefit them, however some students just want to keep thier hands in hair all of the time. Any comments?
The college I am employed at has a video showing the students in the program I teach, all of the possible jobs they are qualified upon completion of the program, I find that it gets the students interested and involved. Also, we use a lot of power point presentations which help keep students involved and engaged.
Hi Jennifer,
I can attest to your response! I teach Keyboarding, and I always share the story with my students how Keyboarding was my favorite class and little did I know it was going to be my bread and butter and an important skill of the century. I get great discussion by sharing this story in Keyboarding.
Patricia
I agree. I've found that when I talk about how what I am teaching still applies to my professional life today the students sit up straighter, their eyes get wider, and they take it all in. They all want to graduate and succeed in the workforce, and knowing that after nearly 24 years I still use the skills and techniques I am teaching them encourages them immensely.
My style is based on using humor and self disclosure - sharing with them how I have handled the same issues myself. I also like to use pics, cartoons including some entertainment value to the class. I find responding to the questions in such a way as to show my sincere interest in them and their questions.
Hi Raquel,
What games do you play? Games are always exciting to students.
Patricia
Some ways that I used to get my students exicted about the class and the boring materials is to play games. I have learned how to incorporate the material into a fun-filled exciting game that both presents the knowlege and excitement.
By using real life interactions such as community guest speakers and visitors. Field trips illustrating how knowledge they are learning is applied in the real world.
In my programming classes, I give students the chance to choose the topic for their final projects. I challenge them to solve a problem they've encountered at work or in using a packaged software project. Students tend to choose more difficult problems then I would assign and they really commit to the project more.
Hi William,
I have experienced students that have had some level of expertise in the subject matter, and I utilized them as examples in various lectures.
Patricia
Hi Lin,
Students love demonstrations. They are truly interested in your personal stories as they relate to their careers. Students should be trained how to produce the best material possible.
Patricia
The basic things I did to make student interesting is demos, career relative personal story, and teach student how to make very common and well know stuff better so that to get “wow” responds. Student would very excite and really get much more involve into further activity or project.
The basic things I did to make student interesting is demos, career relative personal story, and teach student how to make very common and well know stuff better so that to get “wow” responds. Student would very excite and really get much more involve into further activity or project.
Most of our students have some level of expertise in the subject matter and have either observed or practiced it in operational settings. Other students are a great resource to influence new/resistent students in both the material covered and the requirements for the course. Seeking student comments even during the course introduction can help identify the experienced members and improve the overall energy level of the course. It is also critical that you emphasize the importance of student feedback to improve the course for future students.
As a technical trainer, I try to show my students how the knowledge they will gain from a particular course is going to save them time/ make them money. I also try to engage them with humor and tie it to the course content or the particular technology involved.
I always try to get my students excited about my course by letting them know how much I love the field of work they will be entering as I still work in the field I am teaching.
