Hi Mike,
Students can never have the requirements written too many times. Things tend to stick when they are written down.
Patricia
I remind them how lucky we are to be training for a career doing something that we actually love to do...even off the clock! I then go through the syllabus and reinforce the course requirements by writing important assignment due dates and general class point accumulation figures on the marker board. That way the students have the correct information in the syllabus and in their notes.
I teach general education courses (Sociology and Psychology) and students are not usually thrilled to be in there. They feel like this isn't going to help them in their career, so why should they care? Right away I tell them that Psychology and Sociology are everywhere. If they are going to work a job, they will be dealing with people and groups everyday. I try to give examples that are career related and stress the importance of an employee who is a well-rounded individual, which is something that is gained from gen ed courses and what employers are looking for, in addition to the technical skills.
Hi Russell,
Bottom line, show them the benefits of the course content, and they will get interested and involved in the process.
Patricia
Hi Roberto,
Your bottom line says it all! As educators, we must do this!
Patricia
Hi Roberto,
Absolutely! Student must know the WIIFM. Once the WIIFM is established constant motivation and encouragement begin.
Patricia
Hi Stuart,
Once you get the students to see the benefit of taking math in their program,I bet they work hard to be succesful in math. Students must understand the relevance of the course they are taking to their field of study.
Patricia
Hello Barbara,
I really like the idea of contacting an alumni. It is nothing like having testimonials. Testimonials are great!
Patricia
Hi John,
Absolutely, we all need general courses to be successful at running a business.
Patricia
Within prior post I mentioned how by informing students the benefits of the course such as how it will help them achieve their goals, really get them interesed. I teach automotive technology, one of the courses I teach is drivability and emissions which involves some smog information which I make students aware of and the bebefit of such.
In the same token, the feedback I have received from a few students is that after lecturing how to read exhaust emissions it also appears that some had become convenced that when ever they are done with our core program they will be attending the smog course in order to become smog technicians here in the State of California a course offered by the organization I work for.
Buttom line, show them the benefits of the course content and they will get interested and involved in the process.
Roberto
Give the students a short story of what they are about to learn in this class and how they will use it in the industery.
Hi Arthur,
Wow, you have an interesting course that most people are naturally interested in! It is great you do focus on how the course requirements prepare them for the work world.
Patricia
Hi Diane,
I make a similar presentation. I created a PowerPoint presentation for Keyboarding. The presentation focuses on, the importance of Keyboarding, why they take Keyboarding, jobs gained from mastering the skill, what they will learn, etc. Students absolutely live the visual.
Patricia
Hi Bonnie,
Clincal courses are exciting period. I observed a clinical course last week, and the students in training were very excited, and they even got me excited.
Patricia
Hi Bonnie,
What a good way to have student involvement with the syllabus throughout the course. Any time a student knows they are going to be tested, they tend to hold on to the information.
Patricia
To get students interested and involved in course content, we review the course syllabus together the very first day of class. After reviewing the syllabus thoroughly I give the students a quiz on the information that they have read. I then have a differnt student read the course objectives each week before we begin our next lesson. This helps them to be involved throughout the entire course.
Bonnie
I really like to build up the course during the first class session and explain to the students what they will be learning over the schedule of the course, and what activities they will be responsible for completing. This is especially fun in a clinical course because they are so excited aboutthe new skillsthatthey will be learning.
Bonnie
In Keyboarding, for example, I ask how many have keyboarding experience and have them share what kind of experience they have had. I also give examples of how keyboarding will play a part in their profession. This is done on the first day of class.
Teaching a kitchen lab course it is easy to get students excited just by discussing the different foods and recipes we will be using. Talking about the flavorful food they will get to eat usually does the trick. To get them to understand course requirements I always try to apply how those course requirements will mirror job expectations out in the field
I face the same problem teaching the general education courses at a career college. Students are so focused on learning their chosen skill or trade, they see no use for anything else.
Your ideas about showing them it is needed to succesfully run a business are great.
