Show them you love what you do.
Enthusiasm can be infectious and this is especially true when an instructor is teaching a pm class in challenging economic times
Sometimes showing our passion as an istructor can help students realize their own passion. Something made them want to attend this school. It may have just been a spark of intrest. As instructors we have the power to stoke that spark into a burning flame. It is then up to them to maintain that fire and use it to fuel their futures.
Jennifer,
The experiences shared by professionals who have "been there" are a strength of career colleges.
Jeffrey Schillinger
I also think it helps when you are able to talk about more than just "textbook examples"- real life examples, even if they are "bad examples" or bad stories about something- especially if after your story you tell the students why you liked/ disliked the experience.
This is my motto and I hope I show it each time I enter the classroom. It starts from the top, you cannot expect your students to be interested if you are not. Enthusiam rules!
You are right. Showing off the passion for the career, for the topic or just showing them how passionate you are for them will be the most important lesson given to the students.
Michael,
The teachers I remember most were ones who had passion for their subjects and really cared about their students. Those two things,when combined with a solid knowledge of effective teaching strategies, establishes the type of environment in which students choose to do the things they need to do to be successful.
Nothing better than talking about what you love & teaching it!
Thanks, Terence.
What are some of the specific behaviors that demonstrate that a teacher has "passion?"
Passion is one of the most important things that Culinary Instructors need to teach students on our campus. Passionate instructors give students the encouragement they need to find their passion.
Craig,
Thanks for this post. Letting students know that you were once where they are can be useful in your modeling and mentoring role as an educator. Keep up the good work.
I do the same. I loved my previos occupation but, events in my life made me change course and become an Instructor. I tell my students this, but I tell them the best part about working for them is that I see a reflection of myself when I was their age. I appreciate the job my instructors did for me when I was their age, so I try to do my best for my students.
At least once every three months or so, I am asked by a class why I left my field if I loved it so much. I have a few reasons for this and I tell them very honestly that although I enjoyed my prior job, it lost it's challenge and was not holding my interest anymore. Teaching people the trade I love is far more rewarding than fixing a car because the rewards are short lived in the dealership, but are life long in the classroom.
