Make learning visual, Teach Inductively, Satisfy students' need, Explain, Reward, Care, and have students participate.
Allow students to become interactive within the discussion by asking questions. Highlighting the postive aspects of the subject. Most important keep topics relative the the subject being taught. As long as a student is learning they will become motivated.
Kelly this is a nice response. I think enthusasim is a key. Being creative is a true source being able to adjust helping students see the relevance.
I agree with that assessment. Keeping them engaged via feedback on their progress is a true way of helping in this area.
I feel that you can show adult learners/students how ot go about their business to show them the "on the job behaviors" making sure they see them in action.
Explain to the students practical applications of concepts learned in class.
I enjoy teaching and letting students know the wonders of the world out there waiting for them.
Hello, all. Some great suggestions here, relating content to the real word, using humor, and being enthusiastic about the topics are all keys to motivation.
I teach general education science course in a career college, biology and environmental science. Students sometime "groan" about the need to take courses out of their major fields, and the suggestions that have been made here can certainly help.
But sometimes the content in a gen ed course is not specificaly relevant to their career but more to their personal lives and understanding concepts that define them as "college-educated."
If they focus just on grades, they might get discouraged if they find the content challenging especially if it is out of their comfort zones or experiences. I try to bring them back to the ultimate goals for education which are learning, and ultimately, a degree.
How do others handle this? :-) Lyn
I can tell them things that happen in the clinic that relates to the material so they realize that they need to know these things. It will motivate them to learn more.
Enthusiasm is key for sure! There should be excitement about the subject material as well as innovative ways of teaching that material.
The instructor can make learning fun by being a positive role model in the classroom.
Self-depricating humor works well for me!
The best known example is the branding campaign of candidate Obama. The iconic image used with his logo has many levels of meaning, including patriotism, unity, and moving forward.
It served him well to communicate his message of hope and change in one small visual symbol.
Hi Ann,
This is a good way to make it "real" for the students. Thanks to all of the reality shows on TV today every field looks exciting and rewarding financially. Which may or may not be the case but before they get their own show they will have to put in some real effort in developing their skills. They need to be able to see the application of their art so they can see how they might be able to shape their future.
Gary
A way to make your students motivated and excited about a course would be to help them picture the outcome of success. Share with them your experiences and your struggles and let them know that it is all worth it at the end.
I connect with students by asking why they decided to seek a degree in the arts. This removes the mask of the computer monitor and helps them visualize where they, as artists, fit into our complex society.
I discuss examples of where art and design has truly had an impact on the world, explaining that what they are learning to do is powerful stuff!
Generally, if I am enthusiastic about the subject and express my interest, it helps to motivate and excite them about the class. I also try to use humor when I can.
This sounds like a great idea. Can you give me some examples? And how in-depth do you go in your discussions?
I find that students' attention, focus and enthusiasm rises when I relate the current activity to real life job experience that I or a peer has had. The situation stops being theoretical and becomes real. They get very excited by that.
Hi Sheila,
Great way of making the course content current through student selection. They get to bring to class their version of how they see a current topic impacting the course. This is a good way to help the students to see application and relevancy.
Gary
I agree that motivating students is easier when they see the exuberance and enthusiasm you have for the topic matter and can clearly translate the course material into something directly relevant to their lives and careers.
To that end, we begin each class with each student sharing a current event topic pertinent to the course. That way they are applying their own interests to the course topic and learning from each other.
