I have had personal epiphanies, and ONE of the subjects I make sure I try to impart is about fiscal diligence and responsibility to prepare for unavoidable emergencies, and for invaluable peace of mind that inevitably comes with being able to afford within their means.
Hi Rene,
I agree! I also like to talk about the potential income every opportunity I get. Students are motivated when it comes to money.
Patricia
Since I teach accounting, the students can learn methods that will help them if they choose to become enterpernuers in the future as well as use much of this information currently in there personal life.
Never be afraid of the words. bookkeeping, debits, or credits. Think of all the course information as future knowledge in keeping personal finances in order.
As we learn how small companies needs and advisor many of these techniques can be adated within our life.
My class is all about getting students ready to take and pass their certification exam so they really do need to be excited about the course. I reinforce the importance of preparing well for their exam as well as learning not simply memorizing the information so that they can use it in their careers. I give real world examples as well as try to engage them in the reviews. Once we finish going over the information I ask them to focus on their weaknesses and ask questions so that they feel more confident and prepared for the exam and their career.
Visual aides, engaging physical, team-oriented activities. Personal enthusiasm and real-world examples can also work well.
Hi Leroy,
I like it! contrary to belief, most students want to be challenged. They are not looking for an easy way out. It is the challenge that brings about the excitement.
Patricia
Students respond best to discussing future class projects with what appears to be impossible solutions. Students were challenged and instantly bonded together into teams to work on possible solutions.
I appreciate your comment. Getting students excited about Medical Terminology can be a challenge, because they see it basically as a vocabulary course. I'm excited to be revamping my syllabus and start our first day this term with some activities to help them realize just how important this "new language" is for success in their college experience and their career.
Hi Barbara,
Good idea! Students love it when they are having fun while learning. I like how you give your students something to look forward to.
Patricia
I like to model excitement in my own instructional style and approach. Students mirror what they see in you. If you are organized, well-prepared, and see the course as an opportunity for a life-long learner to gain knowledge and expertise, the students will become more excited about course content. If you approach the content with boredom and drudgery, they will model the same attitude.
I created online games with course content. This gets them working in teams and they seem to absord info easier when they are having fun. They also seem to help each other think through the answer. Its interesting to watch them talk things through and come up with answers.
I like to give examples of games and group activities that i have done with the previous class to make the course sound fun and interesting. Keeps the students focused.
Hi Randall,
Awesome response! You mentioned some great points! This is a fabulous course for brand new students. I really like how you let your students know that you have walked in their shoes. You serve as a great role model for your students because you certainly can relate to them because of going back to school later in life. I am sure you serve as a super motivator for your students.
Patricia
Randall Aungst
ED104: Getting students excited about course content
Forum 1
Patricia Scales, Facilitator
The course that I teach is the first course a new student must take at my institution; Building Your Success Strategy Plan. A vast majority of my students are adult learners, most over age 35. As such they typically have been out of any form of formal academic environment for some time. The class does three things for the students; brushes up their writing and thinking skills, introduces them to the virtual environment along with the programs they will be using throughout their journey and finally helps them to create a comprehensive personalized success strategy plan for how they are going to succeed in school. Getting students excited about the course is not an issue for me considering that this is their first class back in school. Every student is eager for the adventure to begin. The challenge for me is bringing them back down to reality, focusing their energy and getting them to settle in for the long haul. In the first lecture I set the stage for their journey by doing three things. First I introduce myself and show them that not too long ago I was in their shoes; I went back to school to achieve my first degree in 2005 at the age of 35. At the time I had small children, a wife and a full time job. This illustrates that the journey can be done by someone under very similar circumstances to them. Second I review the course expectations with issues including but not limited to university policies regarding being late, plagiarism and participation. This basically reinforces the idea that they are not just going to skate through doing nothing, there is going to be work involved. I am helped by the virtual campus because they have clear access to the task list and a grading rubric for each assignment letting them know how the task will be graded. Finally I cover the first two tasks. This does two things; first it covers what my expectations of each task will be and second it illustrates that while the task list and rubric show they where they should end up with the task it is the live chats that show they how to get there. I end the session by reassuring them that I am only an e-mail or phone call away if they need any assistance. All of this is designed to put them at ease so that they may go about their work.
In order to get students exctied about my course I normally try to have guest speaker or two throughout the quarter. I also try to plan fun activities and have even gone on a field trip to the mall. I think that students like class more when they can get up and move around. Using intersting video clips and providing handouts also help students become engaged.
I try to mix in as many get out of your chair activities as possible that relate not only to the course content, but help students build a good knowledge base of the material. This is a content course, and most of the students are taking labs where they are used to hands on experience. I don't want to be just another talking head; I want my students to get involved in the learning process itself.
I find that the instructor's personality, enthusiasm, and sense of humor go a LONG way in student engagement. Being genuine (rather than stuffy) also makes a huge difference.
I don't know if generates excitement exactly, but I emphasize the relevance of the course content to their future careers and goals. I also highlight the assignments that they will enjoy most so they can see what they have to look forward to in the coming weeks.
I think it is important to discuss why students are taking the course and how they think it can be relevant to them and their career in the future. You can then take their ideas and use them as creative ways to presesnt certain course content. For example, I will be teaching a pharmacy technician course and one student could say they want to help people, or they are interested in learning about different kinds of medications. I could take these students goals and use them to demonstrate how my course can help them reach their own personal/professional goals.
Hi Brandon,
How fun and also very creative on your part! The perfect mixture is having fun while learning.
Patricia
