Hi John,
There really is nothing like real world examples. Once you have experienced situations on a particular topic, you can present about the topic from an entirely different perspective. Students enjoy hearing instructors' stories about a given experience. I always try to incoporate actual experiences in my lectures.
Patricia
I use real world examples and tell actual experiences where I (or others I know) have used the material being taught.
Provide examples or illustrations of how this course relates to the "real world". How they will be viewed by other professionals and their co-workers.
Hi Joseph,
I teach at a business college, and I have 19 years of teaching experience. I always thoroughly go over the syllabus, class introductions, and my background because this information is so important on the first day. I certainly understand the need to dive right into the lesson, but the syllabus should always be covered thoroughly so that sudents fully understand everything. I too am anxious to get the students involved in the lesson, but sometimes I do not get the students involved in the lesson until the second day.
Patricia
Hi Anne,
Showing a student your masterpiece is always a plus. During speech, I always give a sample speech, and I share the visual that I created for my speech with my students. Student becomed wowed by seeing the instructor's work. by seeing the instructor's work, it gives the students confidence that they can do it too. It is always good to poise questions to your students to determine their perception of the course or an additional course based on how the course would help them. Students give great feedback based on these types of questions. I love finding out about my student's prior knowledge so that I can build from that point in my lectures.
Patricia
That sounds just great! I show a PowerPoint of my artwork and tell how I use the Principles and elements of design. I also ask students how they perceive an introductory design course can help them in their specific discipline, among which are: merchandising, fashion design, interior design, interactive media (web design, etc.), graphic design, and game design. I ask them what they know already, and I open up a discussion of what might constitute the difference between an artist and a designer and how the boundaries might be blurred.
I teach at an auto technology training center. Luckily, I had 16 years full time experience as a tech. After a quick verbal outline of the syllabus, and class introductions, and a background of my "resume". I give case studies of actual diagnosis and repairs in my past, and how the students are going to learn the same techniques I used. I then explain the flat rate advantage to them
Hi Annie,
Using articulation during your delivery is very important. It doesn't cost a thing to smile, I too smile alot with my students. Smiling lets the students know that you are personable, pleasant, perhaps nice, approachable, nonintimidating, etc. I have always focused on having excellent eye contact as well. Eye contact can let the students know that you are confident. It is nice when you can add practicallity to your courses--it is nothing like saying "been there done that" so to speak. I am sure students enjoy hearing your experiences as an artist and designer. You're right, your work ads credibility to you as an instructor. I am a typing guru, and my students get a chance to observe my typing abilities, and they are in awe. My demonstration adds more credibility to me as an instructor, and it also lets the students believe that they can get to that point as well. It is vitally important to share with students how to overcome challenges. I also have my students introduce themselves on the first day--it is a nice way to ease some of the nervousness and make the students feel more comfortable. Wow you and I are so much alike. In addition, I share good examples as well as bad examples with my students for various projects. I am definitely a hands-on instructor. I learn best by doing, however I use techniques that reach all types of learners.
Patricia
I make certain that my delivery is articulate, that I smile a great deal, and try to make eye contact with every one of the students. I also talk about how much it means to me to be an artist and designer and relay to them some of the challenges I faced a different times and how I overcame them. I show them early on examples of my work in order to establish credibility. I encourage them to talk individually about them-selves on the first day and share something about themselves that they want all of us to know. I then go over the syllabus and show them examples of good student work that well-illustrates the first project and then give them a hand-on demon-stration.
To get students excited about the course I bring in guest speakers to show how the coursework the students are involved in is relevent to the industry.
I also schedule a number of group tours throughout the term. Local industries agree to show the students around their business. This gets the students excited, because they have a behind-the-scenes look at the business. In turn, the students are better in class because they are excited to get on the job site.
Discuss how course material is relevant to students.
Hi Tom,
Students typically like whenever an instructor incoporates fun with learning. The hands-on approach for the kinesthetic learner is a super idea as well. Touring the facility can also spark interest, especially when students get to view the room(s) where they will spend the majority of their time taking the core courses in their field of study. Students get excited about their specialized classroom(s). I am the computer guru, therefore my students are generally the "information technology students", and I can really excite them in the computer labs. Students enjoy all of my classes, I believe in having fun while learning!
Patricia
Make the objective presentation fun with hands on products or a tour of the facility.
When discussing the syllabus, I encourage them to pay attention to the details of what we will be doing so that they can prepare themselves. I also talk about the projects and what the results of those projects will bring to their course studies.
One thing I do on the first day of class is have everyone talk a little about themselves. More than not, there's always a sense of identifying with someone else. I believe it creates an atomosphere of relaxation and defintely is an ice breaker. I then tie in my life experiences with the class and have everyone understand the purpose of the course.
Leon, I have had similar experiences over the past 20 years.
I think 10% is a touch low (related to the number of students who will not accept "adult" rules regarding meeting deadlines and such.)
I find that my students do not come for an education for education's sake but rather for how it contributes to better employment opportunities. Students often have to take courses which they do not feel are relevant to their goals, such as English. I tell them that the course title may be English, but the course is really about how to make money. I then elaborate on how greater skills equate to greater value and then how greater value equates to higher pay.
During the interview process, we ask our potential instructors to commit to paper the reasons they chose their field and what moments they found to be the most satisfying and motivating. Before each orientation with new students, the instructors review their responses, which normally brings a smile to their face, and incorporates them into the introduction to the course.
Being involved in funeral service education for over 32 years, I have had lots of opportunity to test various ways of sparking students interest in the variety of subjects I am responsible for. One of those subjects is entitled Restorative Art, which involves learning and practicing the techniques of facial reconstruction on deceased individuals when necessary. The use of a Power Point presentation early in orientation, showing case studies which have been dealt with and how this could possibly become their responsibility, early in their profession does tend to peak their interest quickly. How much they will learn will depend on how much they participate in all facets of the class, from lecture and discussion to lab time and learning the artistic aspects of sculpting the face.
Hi Robert,
It is a great idea to show the students how the course content will help them in their profession.
Honestly, students want to know why they have to take certain courses. Once students understand the relevance of the course to their chosen profession; they don't want to miss a day of the course because of the importance. I have a PowerPoint presentation for every course that I teach based on how the course will help the student in their chosen profession. I get them really excited on the first day to make them not ever want to miss class time. I generally, always have a retention rate above 90% every grading period.
Patricia
