Hi Harry,
First learn and then share with others. A good method of helping students retain and apply what they are learning.
Gary
Hi Kenny,
Good strategy for getting the students involved in the learning process.
Gary
Hi Richard,
With motivation opportunities being provided and your excitement about the field I know your students are going to be engaged in the learning process.
Gary
I do the same thing. I try to show why this particular piece of knowledge is useful or how it applies to their career path, how it can keep them out of trouble in the future, help diagnose or analyse a problem and finally how this new skill will contribute to making money out there in the real world!
Good point Ken. I also like to find out how students are picking up information by questions befor a segment, during, and after. also by pop quizing them visualy (parts association).
When a student is in a lab situation for several hours on end, it can become boring at times to them. What I try to encourage to my students is to try different ways of doing things for the same end result. There are many ways to accomplish a goal, and what works best for one person, doesn't necessarily work best for others. I feel that is my job, to present them with several different avenues to acheive a common goal. When the student becomes confused with the pattern we started with, they want to try something different. I am there to show them how to make a different choice, and let them decide if their way is better, or if the original methods were better.
I use several differant way's to motivate my students, first I try to get them involved in the lectures by having them think of what is being explored. Then we may go out to lab and experience the working model.
I also try to use a positive attitude and truly have Passion for what I am teaching..
The one project I like to do(knowing they don't know much about the subject matter)Is to understand there thought process by asking them a series of questions and have them write down there answers based on what they know or their thoughts on how it works. At this point there is no right or wrong answers. I will collect them up and hold them. After we go through the lecture as well as activties for that subject I will hand them back out to them and have them answer the questions again in there own words. This helps the students understand what they learned by hearing it and seeing it. And shows me that I have gotten the lesson across in a through manner. As well Having the students go through the lesson first, write questions about the subject they don't understand and use them as a question and answer session before the lesson. It tends to keep them interested in the questions and shortens up actual lecture time.
Once we've done a couple of labs, I tell the students that someone in class will be doing the review for the different workstations. This helps them focus on the tasks at hand better than they may have otherwise. Having to explain it to others helps with their retention of the material.
I will try to change things up. ask them questions and encorage them to ask questions. Come up with activities to get them to work as groups, or come up with an EL type game. Learning is easier and more interesting, plus they seem to retain more if they have fun.
I keep my students motivated by showing real world applications that involve them making money with the info learned .
Hi Harold,
Good strategies. Learners need a break in the learning sequence so they can approach the course content from another angle. You are providing just such opportunities.
Keep up the good work.
Gary
If you are lecturing you should utilize small sections of movie clips ( discovery Net) to help reinforce content and breake up lecturing. You may at one point insert a short exercise like a bingo test.
Hi Tim,
Changing the pace of instruction and providing variety are all good strategies for keeping students engaged in the learning process.
Gary
When i see the need to keep them motivated I feel the need to change things up a little.maybe give them new tasks or more challanging ones.
Tim
Hi Corinne,
Spoken like a true educator. Based upon your comments I often think we as educators of adults are still much like elementary school teachers, only the desks are bigger. Our students come into class with real needs for encouragement and support. We provide that while others just need us to point them in the right direction and let me go.
Well said!
Gary
Something that has helped me as an instructor is really trying to remember on a daily basis that every student has different motivational needs. Whereas some students are so motivated, it gives ME something to strive for, others need an incredible amount of motivation. How to have these students in one classroom is what makes me love teaching!
Hi Gladys,
Good approach. You get to use the expertise of your students this way.
Gary
Hi Micheal,
By using mini-lectures (10-15 minutes) in length and then having an activity you allow the learners to take a mental break which allows them to come back into the learning cycle. This is a very effective way of keeping students engaged.
Gary
I agree with Gladys. Subjects that I was not too familar with once I started teaching them they made so much more sense to me. Useing students to aid in the learning process helps them in so many ways.
