I definitively use my life experiences to start discussions specificaly on my Psychology and Career Success classes. I really pay close attention not to make students feel inferior because that will count against my teaching and students take those wrong impressions to other students.
When my students relate to the experiences I'm talking about, is like a light bulb goes on.
Now, it is very different in between younger students that the older ones.
The younger ones sometimes feel like I can be their parent and do not want to hear. We have to make the course also in tune with today's situations.
Ice breakers are my favorites, mainly the one were students need to tell their classmates something no one knows about them.
This make them think about something they will like to share about themselves to break the stereotypes that someone might have regarding any of them.
When students see how excited you are as an instructor, I believe it helps to get the students excited as well. I also like to preview what we will be discussing throughout the course so the students can look forward to those days in the class!
Hi Gina,
Students enjoy playing games! It is a great mixture to have fun while learning. I like to play jeopardy, bingo, and have spelling bee's every opportunity I get.
Patricia
I like to open the lecture in a new class with a small immediate challange for them to think about and discuss. Excample: in my EKG teaching I put one p-q-r-s-t complex on the board. The question to the class is "name that rhythm". I then stand back and let the class begin to share ideas and questions about the complex. After a few minutes of antimated class interaction I then give them the answer that one complex is not a rhythm but the beginning of one. Then they are eager to see the progression of the heart beats and the impact on health. Patty
I will have a variety of games in the classroom, to help the students retain the information, such as Hangman and Charades.
Some of the methods I would use would include incorporating teamwork and utilizing learning activities that offer the students some type of reward.
talking about our experience shows the students why theory is an unvaluable tool for them real practice.
Hi Deborah,
Excellent way to get students to realize the importance of keyboarding. Texting has ruined our push for excellent typists. We have to continue to emphasize the importance of keyboarding correctly.
Patricia
I teach Keyboarding classes at the local career college. Recently we implemented an interactive survey to emphasize the relvance of keyboarding classes in today's world. First, the adults were asked to keyboard a pre-selected sentence on their cellphone keypads. Secondly, they were to keyboard without looking at the keypad. We then switched to the desktop computers and repeated the same options. The adults were shocked both at the results and their new appreciation for the class they realized they needed to take!
Hi Michael,
I can see how humor can aid in the retention of material. People tend to remember funny things.
Patricia
Hi Amanda,
You baited me in too just from reading this response!! Great way to get students to see your point!
Patricia
I demonstrate skills apropriate and/or relating to the course content. I also like to give examples of my past experiences. These seem to get the students interested and they feel more comfortable about sharing their own personal experiences.
I normally bait the hook .
for example If I am teaching infection control I start of by telling them that the lab is used to exam blood , urine and even feces , we normally place it on the table and exam the sample before it is disgarded , I go on to explain that not all students clean up after themselves and when the new students come in they touch the desk, , place their pens on the contaminated table , put the pens in their mouth , now they have a mouth filled with little pieces of urine, blood and so forth. At this point they are grossed out and ready to disenfect ! I baited them in
I agree that enthusiasm and passion are a great place to start. I often start the first day by relating how much I enjoy teaching this particular subject and that I hope the students will share that enjoyment. I am a firm believer in using humor, although it has to be natural and not forced. Don't be afraid to poke fun at yourself occasionally. I went to a presentation some time ago on using humor in the classroom. The facilitator presented some compelling evidence that humor can aid in the retention of a greater percentage of the material presented.
I teach career success and it is very hard to get students excited about doing resumes and cover letters when they have a fear of computers. To get them excited about doing those things, I pull job descriptions and pay rates for what they are going to school for. This lights a fire under them and makes them ready to graduate and get to working to make the money. While they have this fire, I show them how the resume plays a large part in them getting an interview to even get the job.
Hi J. Wright,
Great involvement of the students to have them brainstorm as to how the course will help them in the real world. Some students come in with a ton of knowledge/experience and can shed light on a lot of things.
Patricia
The first class meeting the instructor would lay out some guidelines for the class and also spell out some benefits of the class. The class is then divided into groups that will be allowed some time to come up with suggestions for ways to use the course content in the business world.
Hi Susan,
I really like how you make your students keep their eyes on the PRIZE. Great idea of involving their support system as well. Keeping students excited is key.
Patricia
Hi Roman,
The text is clear way for students to follow exactly what you are talking about when lecturing. The text is also a good reference tool for students.
Patricia
I like to think I have a sense of humor; through my lectures I tell stories that are related to the topic; I also like to have classroom discussions; I also like to discuss the topics that the students bring to class every day; I am a Business Teacher so it is pretty easy to put most topics to a Business Course.
