I make it my "thing" to go around the school at the beginning of each day and say good morning to everyone, all students and instructors. Even if I don't feel like it, I find that by the end of my walk through the campus, I feel better and I am smiling and all the students know who I am. My students also see this and I just tell them that this is my "thing" and I love doing it! When class begins I have a smile on my face and I always have a positive attitude.
Hi Jessica,
You get me excited just from reading your response! I bet your students thoroughly enjoy you LIVE!
Patricia
I'm lucky enough to teach my passion (massage therapy), and I don't hold back on my excitement about the material- kinesiology and anatomy is exciting to me, and I think that my students respond really well to my enthusiasm.
I'm also very real with my students. Some material is challenging to learn, but I let them know that if they stick with it, they'll really be rewarded by being able to provide the best treatment possible for their clients, and that I am available should any challenge arise.
Hi Mark,
I like your idea to use optimistic quotes! Far too often students carry negative attitudes to class and end up getting 'bogged' down in a 'humbug' state of mind. You discussed a good strategy. I remember Robert Allen!
Hello Instructor Scales,
I use real life events from the news or show application of the material to the real work world to get students excited about my course.
Relating the learning outcomes to ways the information can be used or has been used by both myself and students within the class creates a connection to the material and creates excitement.
The excitement comes from me. I am very excited about teaching everyday. I also implement hands-on techniques in lecture with various tools from laboratory that stimulate the student through lecture and having very open discussions.
That is always a good one! One of the instructors here even has buzzers for the teams to buzz in for the correct answer!
We play a game called Jeopardy for our test reviews.. the class is split up in groups of 4 and I quiz each team at a time.. They work in as a team team to answer the question. They really enjoy and look forward to Jeopardy!
I take the students on a verbal / visual voyage to and through that undiscovered country known as their future. Art and Design are wide-open fields with many contributing opportunities. I try to get them to see the possibilities, never the obstacles. The obstacles will arrive in due time and the students will be ready for them. Each student can then possess an individual possibility OF their future that can quickly become a goal FOR their future. The goal in sight, they are ready to begin the journey to a place where they already see themselves.
I do this by sharing with them how I have had the opportunity in my career to utilize the same information I am teaching.
If we, as instructors, can emmulate excitement about the course materials, then it is only natural for the students to also become excited about the material. Just as a salesman needs to believe in the product they are selling, so a teacher must believe in the topic they are teaching. If they don't believe in it, how can they ever sell it?
Lisa, I can't agree with you more when the students see how you feel before class they pick up on it. And they know if your not having a good day they might not either.
I emphasize how the material can be applied in a real life employment setting. I share examples of how I have applied this topic in my nursing experience.
Hi Tula,
It is great when you can talk about concepts from personal experiences. Students are eager to hear your stories.
Patricia
Hi Patricia,
I usually try to engage my students in what ever we are discussing as soon as possible. I find that most of the time students understand better and get excited when they do hands on. When I am teaching anatomy and physiology I usually make analogies that make it easy to understand and somewhat comical.
Carolyn Dupree
Hi Nicole,
I teach Professional Development (Job Readiness Course) and students walk into this class the first day super excited. They understand this class is going to help them become very fruitful. It is my favorite course to teach because of the engery level of ALL students.
Patricia
I use my personal experiences to start off the course to let them know what RT's do in the hospital and to let them know what I have experienced as well. Some of the students come back with, "I didn't know RT's do that too".
Hi Shalika,
Students love and enjoy hearing our stories.
Patricia
Hi Jacquleyn,
You are right! Students love active learning.
Patricia
