Hi Dana,
I concur! Students love hearing stories that are applicable to what they will be doing once they graduate.
Patricia Scales
I believe all students regardless of their age must buy into the course. I have been in the medical field since 1990 and have had a wonderful career. I love to share stories which students can relate to.
Dana
Hi Brendon,
Super! I think this is an awesome question to poise to students to get them to thinking as to why they are taking the course. I like how you build from the information they share.
Patricia Scales
Hi Dana,
I like to get my students to buy into the course by sharing with them the relevancy of the course as it pertains to their career.
Patricia Scales
Hi Patricia,
I think it is important to engage the students in a discussion at the onset of every new course by asking them to answer this question; "why do you think we are about to study this topic?"
Though they may have limited knowledge as to the subject matter at that point, I believe this question causes them to look at our field of practice and think about how this fits. They then share their ideas as a group and I am able to build upon or direct them into specific examples of how this material will contribute to helping them become a well rounded, and knowledgable professional.
To get course buy in from my students I try to apply a real world application to what they are learning and how it can benefit them. I provide examples of situations that can occur with needing employment in this day and age and the usefullness of the information/skills acquired.
Part of my responsibility to get students to by into the course is to make sure they understand my expectations. I list my daily topics on the board, I communicate in person as well as email for that silent student who seems to be overwhelmed with the material.
Integrate their life experiences with the subject matter of the course.
Hi Carmencita,
Excitement really does start with the instructor. I like how you get your students involve where they see the relevance of the course.
Patricia Scales
Hi Charity,
We have to make where our students are anxious to return the next day. I like the idea of the teaser.
Patricia Scales
I try to get them excited first.
I do this by my being very excited.
then once I see they are excited we work on a discussion on why they are excited about the class.
This is a self affirmation of the course they are speaking about.
The wants, The likes, Dislikes and the direction they want or forsee the sourse to take.
I make clarifications and make note of their wants, needs and focus on keeping them focused and excited.
I like to highlight some of the labs and projects that as a class we will be working on. It's almost like a teaser for some of the students to want to come back, knowing they will have the freedom to be creative.
The most important factor for buy in is relevance. If you can show the students how the course you are teaching is relevant to them in their work lives after school you will get buy in.
They need to know why they are learning the information almost as much as they need to learn the information.
Dr. Rockford Sansom,
I like how you are proactive with your students as to how they can benefit from the course. You do a fine job putting this course in perspective as it pertains to the real world. I am sure your students appreciate you sharing this information with them up front.
Patricia Scales
An option that I've used is a variation on the idea of contracting for a grade. After the syllabus has been distributed, and I've outlined the objectives and requirements for the class, I tell students to take a piece of paper and write down the grade they desire, then create a plan (based on what they've read and heard up to that point) that describes how they intend to achieve that grade. If there's a research paper involved, what tentative topic would they like to do it on? The encouragement to visualize what they may be doing lends a feeling of anticipation and buy in to the process of learning.
Hi Irby,
I like how you make the course apply to the real world.
Patricia Scales
Hi Joyce,
I also like to let the students know how the course applies to their career.
Patricia Scales
Hi Roderick,
I like how you involve your students in the process so that they understand the importance of the course.
Patricia Scales
Well I first demonstrate what it means, looks like, and feels like to be a professional coder. I always use their sir names as well. I also give them productivity reports on coding assignments that tabulate accuracy and efficiency
Give them as much information about the course as possible. Explain the rationale for learning the material but also include your own personal experience. It's also important to be as honest as possible and ask for their opinions.
