I help my students become more motivated and excited about my course by taking my time and explaining how to do the work a little better. I also take time to explain how they would use a certain item in the workforce.
Hi Elizabeth,
Great attitude! Your excitement will serve you well in the classroom. Your students are going to get excited about the content as result of your energy and enthusiasm. Go get'em teacher.
Gary
I am a new instructor and I am excited to enthusiastically teach my new students. I want to not only teach the material but also inspire them to want to gain knowledge!
Hi Andrew,
I agree with your comments about the need for the instructor to be motivated so he/she can help motivate the students. A group will never raise higher than the leader in terms of excitement so if the instructor isn't excited for sure the students won't be.
Gary
I think that in order for your students to become motivated and excited, you as an instructor have to be motivated and excited about the subject matter. Even if the subject is something you may find boring or uninteresting, we can't project our feelings of the subject onto the students. I think engaging students into discussion about the topics in the course and showing your excitement is a good way to get them involved and keep them motivated.
Some ways to help your students become motivated and excited is by sharing information about their chosen field.... I like to discuss fun stories and strange things that we see in radiology! We also discuss the many educational and career opportunities that can participate in after they have completed their degree program, such as teaching, modalities, etc. In addition to being positive about their education and career choices, you can tell them about their earning potential and availability of jobs, in order to give them a "light at the end of the tunnel".
I like to show excitement about my subject area. My students seem to respond better when they feel I want to be there and I really love what I do.
As an instructor you have to approach/deliver the content in a motivated/excited fashion. Also getting the students involved in all three modes of learning. Students should also feel like the class is "theirs". They should have input in how the class will run and thrive. Always being open and receptive to new ideas and suggestions from students. And last, but not least, make it fun.
I love taking my students TO the source. Field trips with motivated massage therapists does the trick every time!
Hi Randal,
Right you are about helping the students see the relevancy and application to what you are covering in class. Real world experiences help the students to "connect the dots" between content and their future. If they want to have these real world experiences themselves they need to put forth the effort to gain all the knowledge they can from their instructors.
Gary
Also, instructor experience in the field provides excellent real world examples based on professional activities. I am currently in an MBA program and all of the instructors have significant business and corporate experiences. Their personal insights are priceless.
I also agree with you on this. I always try to incorporate real world cases and examples in my lectures. I have found that most adult students are trying to learn new material in order to expand their abilities in their careers or new careers. Showing them exactly how what they are learning in the classroom as it relates to real world situations has proven to be very effective for me.
Since this is my first experience teaching in an online setting, I feel challenged employing these components with my students. I taught my first 5 week session and I am about to begin a new session in a few days. Reflecting on my first session, I feel perhaps I might have been sucsessful to a limited degree but I don't know if I was as effective as I feel I could have been. It's hard to know without feedback from the students. I should receive formal feedback soon but I would rather receive informal feedback from students that is inherent in teaching a live class. You can read people's faces and body language which tells you a lot on your effectiveness to motivate. Any suggestions moving forward?
Hi Pamela,
You make a number of good points about how an instructor should approach the classroom and student relationships. I like the way you outlined the need for respect, rapport and enthusiasm. With these three components in place you can go a long ways in creating a learning environment that is engaging.
Gary
I believe students become motivated to learn when an instructor shows enthusiam for their course as well as genuine concern for the students well-being. Coming across as a real person who can make mistakes and doesn't pretend to know everything actually adds credibility as an instructor, I believe. Where there is credibility, there is also usually trust between the instructor and students. If students feel they can trust that their instructor has their well-being at heart they feel more motivated to learn.
Great! Couldnt have said it better
So far this has been a great course. I've been a nursing instructor for 5 years with clinical and theory. The information being presented is such an eye opener and will definitely contribute to my improvements in the classroom. Especially the Harvard videos. Very inspirational.
Hi Phillip,
Good point! We need to do all we can to encourage students to strive for excellence. In today's work setting average is common but excellence is desired. We need to keep them focused on that excellence goal.
Gary
I think in order to motivate students to learn requires creativity. I've been teaching now for 2 years and I have to tell you teaching students of all ages is a challenge which most teachers/instructors can agree with is like re-inventing the wheel, but in all cases of motivating learners I've learned that when you as instructor can awaken the students sense of curiosity (by way of being animated, witty quotes, and other though provoking inspirations) students ears perk up and they begin to sit up and take notice of what is being said, because all it takes is one individual to participate to start the ball rolling.
Keeping the subject matter relative and viable to what's accepted within the given entity....humanitarian relief planning tools utilized/incorporated by world community. Think I saw someone say something about keeping it relative....use real world examples, coupled with an additional practical/guided application utilizing the "how/planning methods and tools" to a potential world crisis....the practical exercise is free!
