student does not want to learn
How do you get a student to learn that don't want to?
Hi Douglas,
Sometimes the students are being forced by family, courts, etc. to be in a specific career prep program. These students are in need of some major career counseling and assessment so they can determine the career area they really want to prepare for. In other cases it is a matter of time and maturity before they are ready to progress with their careers. You are on the right track of trying to help them to the extent it is possible and then you have to devote your energy on those that can benefit. We call those ATB students. Ability to benefit from your support and instruction.
Gary
The time spent motivating a student who does not want to learn should be managed carefully. I used to spend a lot of time trying to "save" students who do not want to learn (or who do not want to learn at this time in their lives), and that time will take a way from the students who DO want to learn and make their lives better.
I usually give some to motivate, and sometimes the student turns around, but not very often.
Main post Plotkin
Many topics are taught to students that they may not feel are pertinent. That is a big issue with today's young student who is impatient and wants it now. They also do not understand why certain topics are necessary for getting their degree. I believe if we can throw in personal experience, pull students in to have the topic may affect them now or in the future (banking, criminal justice, politics) they may gain an understanding of how that topic may personally affect them. Interacting with the student often allows then to feel that someone cares about their opinions and thoughts. Letting students know that their own knowledge and personal experiences can benefit from others and that the opportunity to learn something new will always be a good thing. Sharon Plotkin
Response to Gray and Kenny, I understand the situation well. I teach criminal justice on ground and online and find that some of the students may actually have criminal pasts or are currently being arrested. This creates a huge problem because most law enforcement agencies will not hire someone with that type of past. I do believe we should be very clear to students about their future goals and what they want to do as a career when they are finished. I remember getting my Bachelor's degree in Social Work and realizing I hated the field of study and would never want to do it as a career. I changed my major in the masters program to Criminal Justice and am doing what I love now (crime scene investigator). It would save a lot of time, money and personal anguish to put students on the right path for career success immediately. Thanks for the posts, Sharon
Response to Gary,
I like your suggestions about putting students together that can help one another. I have done this with online team assignments and it does seem to help. I am having difficulty in motivating a student in individual discussion. I try and use personal scenarios to get the student to interact in situations that they may have experienced personally. I also like to use positive reinforcement to let them know that their opinion matter and that I am interested in their success. Thanks for the tips. Sharon
A lot of students at our school are sold "packages" that some times include classes that they have no interest in. It becomes part of our responsibility as instructors to do everything possible to build an interest in that student by emphasizing the benifits of completing this course to round out their education. Besides, it just may become their cup of tea later on and if you didn't do your part to instill an interest level, they will never forgive you! But I have also run across that student more than once that will not even give you that opportunity. At that point you cannot fail, the student has failed.
Hi Kenny,
I can appreciate your situation when dealing with students that really don't want to be in the class. I encounter them almost everyday when I meet my classes. The focus I have for these students is to try and get them interested in learning and help them learn about career options so that they can make a meaningful, realistic and informed career choice somewhere along the line, even if it isn't in the career field I teach. I'm trying to hook them on the idea that they can have a successful career if they are willing to invest the time and effort no matter what the field might be. Sometimes I'm successful and other times they leave the school. I always pleased when I have been able to retain even one of them.
Gary
At my school, we tend to find that as the topics get more difficult those that are not vested and dedicated to the career field and the material start to falter and fall behind and become disinterested. There are some people that come to school and choose a program for the wrong reasons. We find that a certain percentage of our students are here because they were told they had to. Or they pick a program because someone told them they should enter a particular field. Those kind of people are not vested in the educational process, so I am not really sure there is anything you can do or say to get them to want to learn. A person is going to learn the material when they have the desire to. Without the desire being there, I really cannot see any way to twist someone's arm to want to learn, especially when someone else has forced them to do something they do not want to do.
When student does not want to learn will offer tutoring due to some modules is difficult, showing easy ways to learn in regards to some modules, or if they totally do not want to learn then I will just tell them why are they wasting their money and time because we as instructor are their to help, guide, tutor and teach but not to waste their time and ours.
When student does not want to learn will offer tutoring due to some modules is difficult, showing easy ways to learn in regards to some modules, or if they totally do not want to learn then I will just tell them why are they wasting their money and time because we as instructor are their to help, guide, tutor and teach but not to waste their time and ours.
Hi Donald,
The key is to identify the reason for the student being in the class in the first place. If it is due to external pressures, such as family or the courts, the challenge is to help that student to see relevancy to the career area even though he/she is not really "sold" on the area.
If you help students that don't want to learn with application of newly acquired knowledge and skills this will often motivate them. Example by having them perform a simple procedure or task that results in them accomplishing something that they can use in their everyday life the often time become engaged in the learning process.
You can pair them with other students or put them into a small work group and let them work on a problem or case study. This gets them engaged in the learning process through peer cooperation.
These are some general ideas, that have been very successful. If you should want to share some additional specifics about the situation I will be glad to help you with some strategies individually. Feel free to get into contact with me.
Gary
