:-) Motivation
In a technical setting, how does one motivate the student to be less ridged in their thinking?
Hi Andrew,
By using this method you are offering your students a chance to see relevance and application to what they are learning. This will help them as they enter the work place. Keep up the good work.
Gary
I also teach auto tech. and in my experience on the job training is the best. Since i can not take them to a shop to teach them i try to make our lab like real world. I bug a car and turn them loose. When they come back with the wrong answer i tell them they got a recheck. This usualy gets them to start thinking more common since and not so ridged. i hope this helps.
Obviously motivation is very important part of our life and different for each individual,I believe first, we must find out what is it that intrest the majortiy of the students,than expending in a most effective/beneficial way for all concerned if possible.
In a rigid environment if the student is shown alternative examples they can see that there are more applications to the concept they are working with.
Hi Benson,
Thanks for sharing some good ideas about how to keep students engaged and focused on learning.
Gary
The challege of motivation is as different as each individual. First of all you must find out what most interests tyhe majority of the individuals, then expand upon those ideas. Working in small groups and talking about the indiviuals goals seems to work well in most settings. Most instructors will be able to come up with ways to relate expereriences they have had to motovate each individual.
Hi Edward,
Student performance is based upon outcomes. What are the desired outcomes for those that have paid their money and feel they can sleep if they want to. Are they passing the course? If they are then the course and delivery needs to be changed. If they are not then they will not progress toward their career goals, if they have any.
The use of 10-15 minute content sessions and then activities seem to work for these groups. This keeps them engaged. If they refuse to participate in class activities then you have grounds for removal. Make sure you are in concert with your college on this.
A fact track method would be 10-15 minute content (lecture) activity, work groups, individual projects, applications, demonstrations. Things that reach out and "grab" the students and then let them apply the new knowledge.
Gary
I would have to agree to the methods that the Dr and the auto instructor have presented.I am assuming this work with students who want to be there for the day.But dealing with young adult learners, sometimes can be challenging and for those few who wish sleep and feel they paid their money and should be able do what they want and as you talked to them, they have excuses from working late to personal problems,to the rep lied to me and in some cases the instructor only has 3 weeks to judge the learning styles and try to reach out to a student. What fast track method works when the prep work is done,communication is there, but the rigid thinking continues.
I teach auto technology, and spent 16 previous years as a master auto tech. We have symtom charts and pinpoint tests for almost every possible problem in our service manuals. My classes try to teach them to blindly follow the book method. I try to teach my students to use common sense and knowledge of the system to diagnose. I present many verbal case studies I encountered as a tech. And after they complete several of my labs following the "book", I demonstrate to them how they can diag the problem in 1 or 2 very simple common sense tests.
Hi Foch,
What I have done it to develop a number of case studies that have the students explore different ways of solving problems. These case studies "force" the students to look at different approaches to the solution. If they don't they won't be able to solve the problems. Also by working in teams they start to appreciate other approaches to solving the problems as presented by other group members.
Gary
