I have taught classes composed of half traditional and half non-traditional students. I have found that the diversity sometimes works for the best. The older students provide new and different perspectives to share with the younger students, and the younger students bring a lot of energy to the classroom. Have others had good experiences with this type of diversity? Or, what problems have others encountered with it?

For some of my classes, I invite alumni who are successful in the industry as models for my students. It gives the course relevancy and they pick up tips and cues as to how to further their own careers in the industry.

I have found that my students are really motivated to learn when they fully grasp how the learning will add value to their lives. For some that value is job security or promotion; for some it is enriched personal relationships. Show them "What's in it for me?" and they are more likely to work hard to learn the material or skill.

I find that it can be very easy to get in a position of putting too much focus on one particular student especially if that student requires extra time. This tends to upset the other students in the class. Solutions?

In my field, motivation can come often in the form of pushing the students to the edge of the learning process. This is more to prepare them for what they are about to embark upon in their chosen field. Would this be considered negative?

Sometimes I find that students that I encourage do not believe that I am being truthful when I really am. This is a rare problem, but does upset me when it occurs. I have found that most of the time when this occurs, the student is already lacking in confidence and cannot accept positive feedback

When students complain about things like lack of supplies, product, space, etc., it becomes difficult as the instructor when you happen to agree with them. What are some ways to handle these types of circumstances?

How do you bridge the gap in education between student with a graduate degree and those that have just graduated high school?

so we might also ask about the maturity level and how does this effect the pairing, hopefully those enrolled in techinical colleges are on the same page...or how to get there...

The way I keep students coming back is making sure that the class environment is fun and inviting. At the same time making sure to set a high standard but not expecting perfection.

After a few days of class, I can see that cliques have formed. Usually the strong gravitate towards each other and the weak stay together. It helps both weak and strong students if they are mixed together. The weak learn from the strong and the strong learn how to be sensitive to others who have challenges.

Hello Colleagues, Just something I wanted to share for the classroom...Enjoy! ( I usually have it in color and the first letter of each sentence is in bold format) DARE to Succeed!!! There are a few "rules" to follow. 1- Do a little work everyday. Do not fall behind. There are many of assignments to do on a weekly basis. 2- Ask for help. We are there to assist you and clarify any problem. You can also ask for private tutoring if needed. 3- Read the assignments, the lecture notes and plan ahead. Be prepared! 4- Enjoy the learning process... and remember your goals to stay motivated. Let us know how we can assist you further. We are all here for you!!! Dr.T.

I have found that public praise at anytime in class is a phenomenal motivator! Catch them doing something good or great and acknowledge it! This goes further than any quiz or test grade they will achieve. Make sure you are not playing favorites though.

I have had the pleasure of observing other instructors and it amazes me how many of them will plow through the material just to get it done. They barely look around or ask questions to see if their students have absorbed any of the information! Pay attention to the world around you…

One thing I have tried is when I see a “younger” or less mature student in the class having issues I will try and get an “older” or mature student to almost mentor or help them. I try to link ethnicity and gender if possible – this has worked very well especially with some behavioral issues.

Is there a way to motivate students that are always negative?

As a librarian, I find that age is a factor for students who are doing library research. I'll have to generalize. This isn't the case for all students. I find that older students are usually more interested in using the library and the online library tools. Younger students are much more likely to go straight to Google and are not interested in the tools that the library has to offer.

Recently, I have had students from all over the country in my courses, and I have enjoyed this thoroughly. Each student brings unique experiences and stories to the classroom, and whenever I talk about specific landforms, weather conditions, etc (I teach Earth Science), a student often has a first-hand experience to share with the class. Very enjoyable!

In my opinion, motivation is a key element to a course's success; I feel it energizes students in different ways and “pushes” them to do better.

A simple fact that in my opinion needs to be kept in mind on daily basis.