At the first class period, I have a discussion with students about the ways they will use the skills they learn in the class in their work lives. An assignment for the first week is to contact an alumni in their field (by e-mail or by phone) and ask them how they use writing skills in their job. Then the next week we talk about what they found out and I reinforce how the class will help them develop the skills.
At the first class, I also review the syllabus with the students and talk through an overview of the course with assignment deadlines and test dates. I leave plenty of time for questions.
I teach mathematics to culinary students. Few understand that a successful career in their field requires them to run a business. On the first day, after explaining the syllabus, I allow them time to introduce themselves and discus their goals in the culinary world. Then I explain how mathematics can allow them to achieve their goals and how it is used in their business. I reinforce this topic throughout the semester by including examples of each topic I discus within their field.
One method used in order to get student exited about the course and understand the requirements is leting them know the importance of such and why. For example, I ask each person on a one to one basis what are your expectations within this course there after discuss the benefits with them. To go more in detail I will also let them know what the future entails for them as a result of the course in discussion.
Students like to know how they will benefit, not sharing the benefits leaves room for them to loose interest therefore; is imperative for them to know what is in it for them for they want to know and such question will always be in their mind(WIIFM).
Roberto Allen
Hi Peter,
I am sure you have discovered that you have to read they syllabus to them, and go over it thoroughly with them. I use a PowerPoint presentation in every class I teach on the very first day that expresses to the students why they are taking the course, what they will gain from the course, and how it will help them in the workplace. Students want to know how they are going to benefit from their course based on their chosen major.
Patricia
As a new instructor, I do not have any specific methods that I have developed or learned to get students excited and drawn into the course. Something I have been trying to do more of to attract their attention is to provide more relevant examples to how the content can be applied to real life. Where I think I have gone wrong, is that I have been using examples I've always found interesting, but not relevant to the students chosen career.
In terms of getting my students to understand the requirements of the course, I feel I have also failed to convey to them the essentials of the course objectives. I assumed that they would be able to understand the course simply by reading the syllabus, but it terms out, many of them failed to do so. In short, I am a new instructor, who is struggling to absorb lots of knowledge in this regard, and do not have any set methods to deal with these basic needs
Hello Susan,
I love your recall assigment. You get me excited just from reading your response. I can imagine the excitement your students get from this assignment by having it live. Great work, Susan! Continue to use strategies to help your students recall information.
Patricia
Hi Susan,
You're welcome! It is absolutely important to know how to utilize various resources so that you can see things for yourself and not take someone else's word. Seeing is believing!
Patricia
Hello John,
You're certainly welcome. I've enjoyed conversing with you. You've shed light on various areas.
Patricia
Hi John,
You're welcome! You will love it. It is so efficient and effective!
Patricia
On the first day of class, I bring in real life job postings from monster.com or careerbuilder.com from that week that outline skills needed that we will cover in class. I try to emphasize that these skills will be useful not only in getting a job, but in doing well, getting promoted, etc. I also frequently give examples throughout the course where I used the topic in question in the "real world." Hopefully, this stresses the importance of the topic and keeps the students engaged. I find that the actual stories from my experience in the field keep their attention the longest.
Patricia,
Thanks! That is a great idea and one that I will immediately incorporate.
John
Thanks, Patricia. I am enjoying this course and all the post and interaction with the other instructors.
John
I like your idea and I believe I do a little of this in the classroom on the first day. You are exactly right that students need to understand where to find information on the web so they can do searches and see information from from their career site organization for themselves so to help them in understanding the different organizations the career itself is supported by. Thank you.
One of the ways I get students interested in and involved in Course Contentis by having a tray filled with a variety of items that will be used throught the course while I'm talking about some of the items they will be using. After I get through speaking and the tray of items has been returned to me. I cover it up and ask each one to try to list as many items they can remember that were on the tray. The lesson is for recall because the course that they are taking is highly geared towards recall. This gets them engaged and when going over what is on the tray to see if they have that item listed discussion takes place again. The syllabus is the first place to assist in recall on assignments, due dates, and exams. Great way to recall.
Hello Robert,
Trying putting those explanations as to how the course will fit into their career plans and information about daily living into a PowerPoint presentation. Sudents love to be able to see it as well as hear it. You will get an entire different interest level and excitement.
Patricia
I am a new instructor. On my first class day I tried to explain to the students how the course will fit into their career plans and provide them with information they can use in everyday life. My syllabus is very details as to the course, tests, projects and deadlines.
Jamie,
That sound like a great idea! I am sure you are doing a fine job.
Thanks,
John
Hi Beth,
You have it. These same problems will be in place many years from today. It's just a different era, but the problems remain identical.
Patricia
Hi William,
Wow, you get me excited about Accounting based on the way you share things with your students! I have heard the very same things from my Accounting Instructors. My aaccounting Instructors have great PowerPoint Presentations to talk about everything you have listed in your response. Great response!
Patricia
Hello Michelle,
Nicely responded to. I feel as though it is very important to thoroughly read through the syllabus. As you've stated, we can not leave reading through the syllabus as the students responsibility; they are simply not going to do it or read it fully. Excitement is a trickle down effect. I can tell you allow it to trickle from you to your students. :-)
Patricia
