Get Your Students Hired
There are many times that my students come in and they have zero motivation to do anything. It is a real struggle sometimes to get them to do things. I have learned throughout my experience that I need to try new things. If I do the same thing with my students everyday they get very bored. I have to mix it up and come up with different activities and games to keep them interested and excited. I also make class fun by being upbeat, happy and positive all the time! I have found that with my positive attitude I have inspired others to be positive, happy and more motivated.
Involving peers in dialogues is like enlisting testimonial ;students believe it when they hear something from peers and experts.
Our program is very close-knit, and students coming into my class are familiar with the content because their colleagues have shared with them their experience. I find it is helpful to show examples of previous students' work so that the current students are motivated by friendly competition to raise the bar over previous classes' output. I also find that adding a twist over the previous requirements can add some spontaneity and creativity to to the students' work.
Our program is very close-knit, and students coming into my class are familiar with the content because their colleagues have shared with them their experience. I find it is helpful to show examples of previous students' work so that the current students are motivated by friendly competition to raise the bar over previous classes' output. I also find that adding a twist over the previous requirements can add some spontaneity and creativity to to the students' work.
Reginald,
Well said. Without passion for the content and enthusiasm for teaching it the students can very quickly start to drift away just as you mentioned. Sounds like you are bringing both to your students and the results are engaged students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Edwin,
This is a great problem solving way to get them engaged because first they have to think and problem solve and then you walk them through the process. This is information that will stick in their working memory bank for later use.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think you have to show enthusiasm toward the course you are teaching. I teach APA workshops, and the first I do is ask the students have they ever participated in a APA workshop before and what was the experience like. This will get them engaged on the topic, and many will give their experiences. In the past, I would just start lecturing, and within five minutes some students would lose interest. Again, you got to bring excitement to the course.
The way I try to motivate my students is to keep ideas and topics fresh. Start a conversation (i.e. hidden lecture) with a question. "How do you cost a menu item"? Let the students talk about how they would complete the task, this gives the students ownership of the topic. After listening to what the students have to say, ask them to watch your way of costing out a menu item and discuss the pros and cons about which way is better.
Mike,
Thank you for this very well developed outline as to how to motivate students. Each step builds on the previous one in a way the enables the students to see the value of the content being offered and the skills being developed. This along with your passion for the field is a winning combination for students to see and benefit from.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
My philosophy in teaching is to inspire and elevate students to a level of professionalism
that will serve them well in their careers. When teaching, I am preparing each student for
the “real world†of visual communication. Showing them the good and ugly areas of the
visual industry. I believe if their eyes are wide open and they understand what is
expected of them they will be prepared for any circumstances that may come their way.
All education should be to enable the student to perform or do something for the first time
or to a greater degree—something positive or enriching—this change should then
become a permanent part of the student's experience.
At the highest level it is assumed
that a change in thinking has occurred; the intellect is expanded and one's character is
positively affected.
Finally, I strongly believe in the power of being an enthusiastic teacher. I have always
had a desire to learn about image making. I try to encourage that passion in my students.
After all, an enthusiastic student is a successful one.
Raymond,
You have a good start in your instructional delivery approach. As for suggestions for techniques to use while lecturing, I would suggest that you bring passion for the content and enthusiasm for teaching it. Both of these approaches will help to "sell" the content to the students. Also, if you can use case studies with the students after you have covered a topic you will increase their engagement and they will see the relevance to what is being taught.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Jon,
Good strategy. The more real life examples you can bring in and more application you can make the more engaged your students are going to be. The start to see the value of the course content when they can make applications.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I teach machine shop classes. I like to embed videos in the middle of my power points when I lecture. This helps students to visualize my lecture. Students become very excited about this field when I share a new technology they haven’t seen before. Does anyone else have any suggestions on techniques to use while lecturing?
I teach music production, so I often bring in real world examples of projects I'm working on so that the students can get a sense of how the business works once they leave the doors of the institution.
Ninoska,
Thank you for the kind words and it is good to hear of the success you are having with your students. As for motivation the more you can make it personal for your students the better. They need to see the value of the content you are offering in relation to their career development and future. If you can give them examples of how this information will help them with their earning potential their motivation will increase. It is an ongoing process so look for small ways each time the class meets to help students see that are helping themselves and this help translates into financial and person success. One way to do this is to have guest speakers (former students) come in and share about what they learned and the course helped them in their careers.
Gary
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Kare, i totally agree with you. you should totally demonstrate how the subject will help them in real world and the importance to know your subject. Also being enthusiastic and present yourself professional is important so they get to know you and respect you.
I've been teaching out of the united states for several years and a good way to motivate students is by letting them know that hard work definitely pays off. Also by making classes very dynamic has worked for me. I always try to be nice but keep my professionalism so they don't get too comfortable and think we are pals as I read before in the section. Right now I'm starting to teach in a small university here in the U.S and this course has helped me with all the doubts I have. Thank you!
what other ways do you recommend me to motivate my students?
Thomas,
Your last sentence really captures what instruction should be about. By giving them examples and helping them to make applications you are increasing the value of the course for and to the students. This is the reason for them staying engaged for the duration of the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
To motivate students, I strive to make everything I teach relevant and interesting to the the students' goals and aspirations. When lecturing, I like to provide a range of context (cultural, historical, medical, etc.) for students that make the material more interesting. I find that students retain more complex information when they have a greater context. For example, I am currently teaching anatomy and physiology to respiratory therapy students. Being able to discuss anatomy in the context of their future jobs, what diseases they my see, etc. helps the students to contextualize what they are learning. The more context, the more excited (motivated) these students are to learn.