Beth,
The more examples and stories students get the application of content they will make. By sharing these real world stories you increase the ROI for the students in relation to what is being taught.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Matthew,
Thank you for the overview of how to prepare for and approach the classroom. You are following an excellent model and I know it will continue to provide great rewards in learning for your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This is one of my favorite aspects of designing lessons. At least once a week I incorporate "real world" stories that relate to the class objectives. Students look forward to hearing stories about various situations with clients and we often reference and continue the discussions throughout the course. I currently am active in my career field in addition to instructing so using my day to day stories have served as a great way for me to personalize my classes.
I use Keller’s ARCS motivation model. Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction. Attention is easy if you teach ground classes. If you teach online classes this may be harder. Always ask your student small questions throughout your course to see if they understand the material. Relevance is a key point on this model. Since I mainly teach web development classes this is easy to show the students how they will use this course in their new field. Confidence is hard for some students. Provide objectives and prerequisites – Help students estimate the probability of success by presenting performance requirements and evaluation criteria. Ensure the students are aware of performance requirements and evaluative criteria. Satisfaction learning must be rewarding or satisfying in some way, whether it is from a sense of achievement, praise from a higher-up, or mere entertainment. Make the learner feel as though the skill is useful or beneficial by providing opportunities to use newly acquired knowledge in a real setting.
Marcie,
You have a great way of planning for and entering the classroom. Your approach is professional and supportive to the needs of your students. I wish you continued teaching success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Tammy,
This is such a great way to capture their interest right up front. Letting them do things in the lab will help them see the value of the content you are going to be sharing later on in the lecture part of the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I can help my students become motivated and excited about the course by being motivated myslef. I need to be prepared to present the course information with a loving and exciting attitude, to hopefully portray the attitude of motivation and excitement towards the student and classroom instruction.
I teach Phlebotomy and Med Lab. The first day of class. I let the students know that I do a lot of hands on in the lab. The students really like that I don't make them sit through lecture the whole day. So I am able to get them up and moving around and doing interesting things in the lab like growing Staph. Which they find interesting and it motivates them to learn more.
Melannie,
You are reflecting the standards of your field and striving to get your students to internalize information at a level that will enable them to be successful in the workplace. Keep up this effort because your students will be well prepared when they leave your program and as a result enjoy career success. The more examples you can share with them from the field the more value they will associate with the content being delivered. This is when the ROI for the course expands for not only them but you as well since you will be to observe how successful they are in the field and know that you had a part of their success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think one of the biggest ways is to describe how this course will affect their job. Real world examples are very important in getting students to understand how important it is. When discussing Health Records, Coding, and Reimbursement, I explain how important it is to get pre-authorizations done and how I have done it when I was doing it. I explain the different sides of the process, so they can see how they do something affects numerous other people.
Students often use these real world examples as reasons to study and understand the material. When I give an example, then bring it up a few classes later, the students can repeat the lesson to me quickly and see to get the material better.
I also bring up how this course affects other courses and other degrees. I explain that Anatomy and Physiology affects Medical Terminology, Clinical Skills, EKG, and more, which encourages them to study it hard the first time.
And honestly, I tell them that I want them to know the material so they don't "Look Stupid" when they get out in the work force. I explain that I don't want them to confuse a Humerus with a Femur, or that an IM injection is given in the fat, because then they won't keep a job. This little bit of tough love really encourages them to pay attention and do well.
Akuoma,
I use guest speakers in my classes for the same reasons as you do. I think they really help with motivation when they explain how the course work benefits them in their profession. Our modeling of the behavior, dress and language of our profession is a must because we are helping to set the standard for our students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Connie,
We need to bring our A game to class each time it meets, no matter what is happening outside of class. This shows the students the model the will need to follow when they are out in the work world. You make a number of very good points about this in your comments. Thank you for your input on this.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
When a teacher is modelling passion, motivation and enthusiasm before the students it helps the students become motivated. Students can pick up that an instructor has minimum interest in the subject and the students quickly become uninterested too. As a nursing instructor, my students are in nursing school because they want to become nurses, inviting a former student who is working as a nurse to talk to the students can also increase student motivation.
I think it's important to not show the students when you are experiencing a 'down' kind of day. We all get them, but displaying anything other than motivation and enthusiasm is unprofessional. We can not do this out in the field with our custumers/patients. The students are also our customers and we must encourage and motivate them in preparation for their careers through our own behaviors and attitudes.
Betty,
The more life experiences and examples from the field the better. These examples help make the content come alive which increases the value of the course for the students. So keep sharing those stories they are an essential part of the teaching process.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Kristia,
Having passion for one's field and enthusiasm for teaching goes a long way in engaging students. If we aren't excited it is for sure that the students won't be.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
If the instructor can get the students interested and involved in the subject matter, the students will become more motivated. The students are more likely to relate to life experiences as it relates to the course.
By being very enthusiastic as an educator, and finding creative ways to present material in a way that helps students to have their own 'a-ha' moments. Bringing them to that space where they recognize each lesson's relevance to the real world and more importantly to their own professional lives.
Anne,
These are all good ways to get students participating in the class at different points throughout each session. The more variety the more opportunities there are for students to contribute via their learning preferences.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I use many different ways to help my students become motivated and excited about coming to school every evening. Such as role playing, tactile as well as auditory styles of teaching as well as keeping them engaged in the subject matter. I am always positive and energetic when it comes to lectures. I feel this motivates my students.
