Tell story about the that has to do with what they are learning.
I teach Constitutional Law. The current administration, like previous administrations, poses contempory challenges to the oldest written existing governing document. As such I have plenty of current examples of challenges that the students readily recognize as news. This recognition reminds the student that the Constitution is not a relic of history, but a vibrant document which deserves thoughtful study.
Thank you! Yes, they really were very excited about receiving the finished product.
Hi Vicki,
I also like to share with my students whenever graduates have landed positions to generate excitement.
Patricia
Hi Kristin,
I tried a similar approach with my class and found they really enjoyed the process as well. I assigned group exercises during class that required a brief presentation when minor research and collaboration was complete. As in your example, the group or spokesperson for the group got the chance to present and discuss this as an instructor before the class using any presentation equipment or visuals I used for the class. They really enjoyed the role reversal and it always made the class interesting.
I like your idea of creating "affirmations during the term" and giving them a printed and framed symbol of their work. I imagine it made the students feel they really accomplished their goals in the class.
Vicki Allen
Hi. I am a new Massage Therapy instructor. One of the courses I taught was Law, Business and Ethics (as it pertains to Massage Therapy). Most of the students were not very excited about this course and it's content until I began assigning special projects. For example, I asked them to create a vision board and present it to the class. Most of the students loved this project as it was a chance to share their visions as well as be the "instructor" during their presentations. I also had them create affirmations during the beginning of the term and explained that they will receive them back printed and framed at the end of the term as a gift for all their hard work and effort during the semester. The students really enjoyed this.
Hi Cinder,
I like playing games with my students to use as a review. My students have an abundance of fun with Bingo too.
Patricia
Hi Vicki,
Jeopardy is a good way to review as well as Bingo. Students really have fun reviewing in game form.
Patricia
Cinder,
That's a great idea for exam review. I usually end up going over the content in detail, but I would like to find a more interactive way to review with students as you have.
Vicki Allen
Hi Stephanie,
Great variation of teaching methods. You do a super job trying to keep your students excited and motivated.
Patricia
I play a jeopardy game with them before tests. It gets the whole class involved, and also helps them review for their tests. They have a sense of comraderie with this method.
Hi Vicki,
Students really like it when they can apply what they have learned; excitement begins to generate once they find the usefulness of the concept.
Patricia
Methods that have proved successful for me thus far is group activities and planning exercises that help students relate course work to their chosen fields or interests.
I just completed a class which I took the group activity to a different level. We began the course participating in smaller group assignments that lead to a final project. I feel it worked extremely well for most of my class. I did many of the activities mentioned in this course; the students picked names for their groups, picked clients or products and positions within the group. Although I did anticipate problems with group relations, I did have minor problems with groups and the grading process.
Overall, I was really happy with the results and felt the students were able to demonstrate the skills I set out to teach.
I teach computer applications/software and I like to discuss the projects they will complete and how the skills will be transferable in a medical office setting. I have experience being a teacher and tech support so I usually explain what the normal problems or incidents the average user has with programs. I usually offer tips and resources that can help the students solve their problems and become self sufficient.
I try to get my students excited about the course content by engaging them in a course content “scavenger huntâ€! It’s simple really, I make up questions based on the course I’m teaching and ask them to find another student who may know the answer to the question or find another student who fits the question on the paper. For example, when I was teaching a class about Special Needs in the Early Childhood Environment, one of my scavenger hunt questions was “Find someone who knows what ADD stands for.†The students are asked to fill as many questions/spaces in 10 minutes. My scavenger hunt questions vary in degree/knowledge and sometimes are just silly (“Find someone who ate a banana for breakfast this morning.â€). I think it’s a great way to get to know your classmates. I usually like to play too!
I tell them some positive personal experiences from the field that demonstrates use of the knowledge they will acquire. This gives them an idea of what they will be able to do, see and be involved in upon graduation. I also share a few funny stories to help them relax and see that I'm human, too. I have them do observations at the clinical site, so they can see what's in store for them once the book- and class-work is done. We go on at least one field trip, and I plan to incorporate use of a worksheet for this. I'd like to use guest speakers, too. These are 2 new ideas I've received from this course!
One of the things that I like to do is start my class with an activity that introduces them to how differently people learn. My activity mimics a learning style where the student has difficulty attending to information they aren't sure is relevant. I do this for multiple reasons: 1. to get students comfortable with their learning style 2. help students explore their learning style/preference 3. to accept that there is no "perfect" way of learning and 4. to have them start thinking that things are never what they appear. I teach Psychology and the first question is "Why do I have to take this class? It has nothing to do with my major." I usually respond by telling them that Psychology is in everything we do and we just do think of it that way. Things aren't what they appear. I have had great success with this in getting students to open up to the possibilities that taking my class has to offer.
As an Applications Course Instructor, Microsoft office allows me to offer my Students Certifications in all of my courses. With this said, I introduce the MCAS(MOS)pros to the class.
This certification is a great resume builder, and is a great motivator to the TEAM I build in my classes. Students begin to believe they can pass it, and their teammates help them stay on course.
Hello Melissa,
You are right! Theory has no comparison to application. Students want to actually do it or see it being done.
Patricia
To interest students about course content, I try to find articles in newspapers or from the internet concerning the topic at hand. Since I teach in the criminal justice field, it is fairly easy to do. The most important aspect is to show the relevancy of the clasroom topic to the real world. The students seem to appreciate it, and it stimulates discussion.
