Keep the students eye on the prize
We occansionally have race teams come and use our chassis and engine dynos, this lets students work and talk with race team members. The students get an insight to what the teams are doing and what they may be doing in thier future.
Great idea. Anytime you can have a student experience or feel what it is they will eventually be involved in, it is a help. You are able to get their buy-in and that makes it more interesting for the student, and easier for the insructor to deliver the information, when the students can see the connection to the 'real' world.
You make a good point, Hans. The skills we teach are the means to accomplish the end - a better life based on skills that employers value.
Exactly. i have heard too many times that the price (GOAL) is education. in my opinion, thats the TOOL we got to give the studentsto get to the price-improved chances in life and the work environment to achive great employment to better our life, especially when we talk about adult education.
this is right showing them what they are here for might help keep them movtivated.
Awsome, those are type of things that has always motivated me and in this business, I know it give my student the fire they need.
One of the things I try to get across to the student is that the opportunities are endless at our school. By opening the eyes of the student every day to the many possible directions to go in, I feel it encourages them to want to show up the next day, week and month.I try to explain that you can be a specialist in almost any field and you will be a success if the people interested in your services can find you.
I agree when a student can see the real world application of what you are teaching them, half of the battle to keep them in school is already won. There is a lot of hands on real word experience at my institute and that keeps the student engaged in the learning experience
At our campus we have graduate level manufacturer programs so often when a student is starting to lose sight of "the prize" our staff will take them down to which ever program they are interested in and get a glimpse of what the elite programs are. Often that alone will refocus their energy and remind them of why they entered one of our programs.
There are other opportunities along the way in our program that allows students to stay focused on the rewarding career they can have upon graduation. The class I teach is Chassis Applications, how to set up race car suspension. As a motivator, I try to demonstarate how what they are learning can be applied to many different types of race cars or even modified street cars. Even though I am not a big fan of many of the types of applications our students are intersted in, that is not my place to judge, I simpley help them see the usefulness in having a well rounded knowlege of all types of suspentions and applications. The campus activities such as go karting and drag races really help to that point.
What is the prize, Marvin?
Make the prize worthwhile and achivable
Always talk to him and coach him to stay focused
Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel doesnt seem so far away when the students get to work with a real race team.This is probably the best motivation I have seen for a student.
I agree. When a student can see the real world application of what you are teaching them, half of the battle to keep them in school is already won.
I think this program is great. I try and take my fab classes out when teams are here as well. It shows the students that they are getting the real deal in the engine classes. It also helps to show them some of the fab work and ideas that the teams have.
That must be exciting for your students. How many of them actually go to work for race teams? Do the others see an application of this knowledge in other settings?
