I believe that being a mobile instructor is very important. You cannot do too much standing behind your desk or teaching area. It is important to be a presence in your classroom by constantly making rounds. This will show all students you are paying attention as well as making yourself readily available for questions.
Hi Larry,
Walking around the room typically works to capture students attention. You see more in control of the classroom when you are moving around.
Patricia
Hi Karen,
You're right! These tactics always work to capture students attention.
Patricia
I use two methods to help students that seem to be unmotivated or inattentive.
1: Presenting real world scenarios - This allows my students to use what they have been learning and apply them to a situation I have occured while working in the professional that I am instructing.
2: The use of different guest speakers - I believe that the use of guest speakers can help a student become more motivated by showing them one of the many possibilities that is available to them upon graduation.
As I walk around the room speaking, I will casually put my hand on the desk of the inattentive student or just pause a moment at their desk. That usually is enough to get their attention. I continue to speak though because I don't feel the other students should be interupted in their study. If the student or students are very disruptive, I will stop and just say "I'll wait". That always take care of it.
I have found that when the course content is not holding the attention of students, a good way to draw them back in is to add a professional anecdote or applicable story of real life situations that involve what we are learning. I teach pharmacology for nursing students which can be incredibly dry, but when I add a story about a patient who experienced an improper administration of the med and the outcome - everyone is interested again.
Hi Joyn,
Great poem! I enjoyed reading it. You made some valid points.
Patricia
WITHOUT A HEART
Without a heart
There is no connection between your hands and your mind
Without a heart
You cannot understand how it is to be kind
Without a heart
There is no connection between your class and desk
Without a heart
You do what is called for, in black and white I guess
Without a heart
You will not teach what you think is real
Without a heart
You keep your job and that is what you feel
Without a heart
You count to ten and try to show respect
Without a heart
You don’t understand and you cannot reflect
Without a heart
You teach what, and how you were taught
Without a heart
You expect students to fight the way you fought
Without a heart
You do not want to go back in time to see
Without a heart
You don’t think, where would you end up to be
Without a heart
You have to grade while you face that stare.
Without a heart
The students think that you do not care.
Without a heart
They will think you have no loving hand.
Without a heart
They tried hard but you don’t understand.
Without a heart
You give what they did not earn.
Without a heart
You may not see what the student learned.
Without a heart
The student will think that they understood.
Without a heart
They blame themselves, though they did the best they could.
Without a heart
They won’t come to you when they need advice.
Without a heart
They are sure that you won’t be nice.
Without a heart
You want students to feel what you felt.
Without a heart
They have to play the same hand you were dealt.
Without a heart
You don’t think how their life was before.
Without a heart
When they have problems you choose to ignore.
A POEM BY CHEF MARZIALE
Le Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts
What do I look for in a teacher…
I learn slowly. I learn better in an organized positive atmosphere. I learn better when the information is repeated several times and when I feel comfortable asking questions without any fear of being made to feel stupid for asking the question. I learn better when the teacher reads and respects my feelings and attitudes especially since they don’t know me well enough to know how or why I am the way I am. I like teachers who attempt to get to know me. I like teachers that do not judge me but offer to help me accomplish what I am trying to accomplish. I like teachers that respect the fact that I have hired them to do this. I like teachers that watch closely to how I am progressing and communicate with me so I can improve. I like teachers that take the time to get to know me. I like to have a teacher who is talented but humble. I like a teacher who sticks to the program, to the order of business, to making the most of every minute of time we have in class – I like a teacher who works hard at trying to make the class interesting and meaningful. I like a teacher who isn’t looking to make an easy day for himself at my expense. I like a teacher who can push me but recognizes my limitations. I like a teacher who treats everyone equally and with genuine concern for everyone. I like a teacher who respects what he or she does and the place they work. I respect a teacher that doesn’t blame things on someone else or the company they work for. I like a teacher that never talks negatively about another person. I learn better from someone who practices what they preach. I think that most of us look for all or most of these things and maybe a few others when we are the student. It’s very important and necessary to evaluate ourselves and be honest. Am I the teacher that I would want to have?
Teaching with heart
We teach them how to think - we teach them how to cook !
Now matter how good we may be - we need to take a look !
How were we at that age - were we what parents want !
Yes , you have them thoughts now - we see them as a haunt !
If you do not know your students - you can not teach with heart !
What did we expect from our teachers - how were we at the start !
We had that dedication - to take our moneys worth !
Now our knowledge is desired - to quench another thirst !
To expect them all to be the best - and want the best results !
It’s a bad bet at the start - first you will see their faults !
Let them feed their minds - with the best that they have got !
They learn it must be better - COLD FOOD COLD AND HOT FOOD HOT!
The best that I can call this - is that it’s carma at it’s worst !
You learned your craft through conviction - and you got there first !
You must want to give your knowledge - to the one who will pass you on !
You want a good report - from the thoughts that are not gone !
You know the students will mention you - and you want to here the love !
When they say that you were the iron fist - that wore the velvet glove !
Do not give what was not earned - or pass the knowledge on !
To a vice that will make you blind - to the battle that wont be won !
Nothing should take you off this track - or guide you astray !
It is your job to pass it on - it is your job every day !
I heard El Edwin Brown say - love is what you need !
Use it as motivation - and your students will suceed !
Yes some of them will drop the ball - and succeed to fail !
As long as you did your best - you always will prevail !
The art of understanding - the job that you must do !
Earned you the right to expect - the respect you think is do !
The culinary field is crazy and if students are not DOING they get bored quickly. I like to pull some of my willing students out of the crowd and have them demonstrate a task with me. This makes the students watch with excitement and it helps the assisting student with confidence.
Hi John,
What an awesome list of suggestions! I especially like the suggeston on self talk. I tell me students to help encourage themselves positive self talk is extremely effective. Posistive self help helped me tremendously while I was in undergrad as well as grad school. I still even do it to this day.
Patricia
Hi John,
I love it! You get a better understanding of a student's situation by poising the question with "What". The more we know about students, we are better able to help them. Great tip!
Patricia
I always apply a real life appoach to my lectures to show students how the class content relates to the future in the work field
Hi Susan,
My name is John Marziale from Pennsylvania Culinary Inst.
I just wanted to add to your post.
I find it better when I ask (WHAT) questions instead of (WHY) questions.
For example: I dont ask a student WHY they were late again, I will ask WHAT were the circumstances that caused them to be late again.
What questions require much more information in most cases.
By spending some one-on-one time with the student. Try to draw them out with questions and to get to the bottom of why they are not focused. Try other activities that will involve them in a group activity. The instructor should also look at themselves to be sure that they are not contributing to why the student is unattentive.
Hi Maggie,
Great strategies! They have proven to be effective. We must continue to do what we can to try to reach every student, although it is a challenge.
Patricia
Hi Michael,
This is a sure way to get the student's attention. Whenever this occurs, the student is typically engaged for the duration of the period because he or she doesn't want to be caught off guard again.
Patricia
Hi Annette,
I do this all the time. I randomly call on students to answer questions. This is a good method to help keep students attentive.
Patricia
There are several ways to do this. Cell phones are not permitted during class. This is always a disstraction. Letting students know that their notes will be check at the end of class helps. When we are in production the students are up and working so it is hard not to be attentive when you are practicing and producing product that will be assessed or graded. Separating a group of students that are disstracting is a must during lecture. I must make sure that the informatiuon is relevent to the class and keep the tempo up beat. Choosing inattentive students for special work in the kitchen makes them feel more involved and gets their interest. Grouping them with students and giving them a part of production that must be completed for the rest of the group keeps their attention focused with the other students in the group.
MORE SUGGESTIONS LISTED BELOW.
#1 - Make sure the student has clear procedures for staying current with class.
#2 - Be sensitive to what ever the students problem may be.
#3 – Refer the student to the proper people or resources for the help they need when possible.
#4 - Create a class exercise the promotes their interaction.
#5 - Create an activity the will give them special recognition.
#6 - Be understanding when absences accrue due to a legitimate problem.
#7 - Give them as much positive feedback as possible but only when appropriate.
#8 - Suggest changes to their daily routines that may help them do better in the class.
#9 - Promote self talk that lets them see their own worth and accomplishments.
#10 - Let them know what it will take from them to succeed in school and outside of school.
