Hi Eric,
I am sure your enthusiasm comes through as evidenced by the effort you put forth in finding current applications of biology. This way the students know you are always on the look out for something you can bring to class that will show them how biology can be applied to their daily lives.
Gary
I've found that using as many real-world examples and applications as possible tends to keep students interested and motivated. I enjoy searching for such examples in my Biology courses (there are always interesting and relevant things happening in the field of Biology) and I think my enthusiasm also comes through in my presentation. That's my hope, at least.
Creating an atmosphere that is open and positive, let the students know that you care about their learning and want them to succeed. Give the students frequent feedback, let them know how they are doing and what they can try harder on. Students learn by doing, so make the students active participants in the classroom and in learning. Encourage students to suggest an answer to a problem even if they feel they are not correct. You can also ask students to analyze what makes a class more or less motivating. Having feedback from students can definitely help the instructor in keeping their students motivated.
Hi Angelo,
Simple formula but often missed by students. Work does equal reward. The more often we share this with students the more likely they will start to understand this concept.
Gary
My biggest motivator is simple: Work=Reward. I tell them that the reason those in our field are the best is only because they work the hardest and are constantly educating themselves.
Dr. Meers,
I feel that a great way to motivate and excite a student about a course is to show them what the many possible benefits of completing the course successfully could be. If the course that you are instructing relates to the field that you came from you could relate many of your personal achievements in the field, self satisfaction, personal growth as well as earning a decent wage.
You can also engage them into a discussion about what they are interested in getting from the course, as well as their expectations and dreams, in doing this you are also gathering information as to the best way to deliver the course material that will best relate to what the student is looking to achieve.
Creating a vision for them, with a goal that is obtainable should get them excited.
Lewis Leonard
Hi Jennifer,
This is a great way to "connect the dots" for students in your courses. They start to develop an image of the future they can have if they complete the required courses and develop the skill sets required for career success.
Gary
Hi Elizabeth,
Glad you have had a great first quarter and that you are enjoying being an instructor. You are doing great things to keep your students engaged and excited about the education they are receiving. Keep on this course of action and you are going to have a great career as a professional educator.
Gary
This has been challenging for me. I am teaching a required course that many students do not want to take. I have struggled but have found that making as many clear connections to job-related functions or their intended career has been most helpful so far. Another approach that has worked for some students is to focus on how the information in the course can contribute to their own personal growth or understanding of themselves. This has been useful for some, but not all students are interested in this benefit to the information. Motivation has been key though in contributing to class discussions and thorough completion of assignments.
I have just come to the end of my first quarter teaching and I have found that direct face to face feedback with the students about how they were performing in the class was really motivating for them. Whether performing at the top or bottom of the class, they were all reassured and excited to see where they were at in the class and how far we still had to go before a final grade! A second really motivating experience for the students was a visit to my former workplace, and possibly their future workplace. They were all very excited about the possibilities and talked and talked about their experiences there.
Hi Brenda,
A career choice needs to be informed, meaningful and realistic. The informed means the students know about the career, meaningful means they enjoy doing it and get value from it and realistic means they can do it. They have the knowledge and skills required.
Anything you can do to help them experience these three areas as they start to narrow their career choice down is valuable to the students. Guest speakers, job shadowing and practicums are great ways to help them see the "real" part of the career choice they will be making.
Gary
Relaying opportunities that await them in their chosen careers. For example, as a business major, you have many avenues you can venture down. You can be an auditor, a tax preparer, a cost accountant, the director of a nonprofit, etc. I think trying to get them to see the fruition of their efforts would be very motivating but I am definately open to any and all suggestions!
Encouragment!!! Speaks for itself.
Also, talk about how what they are learning applies to their future and how it effects them.
I agree. I always provide examples from real life. I feel that is a great benefit of working in the field and teaching in the same time. I also like to share my experiences as well as positive resolutions and lesson learned.
A person's desire to learn training as "motivation to learn" is influenced by multiple factors, such as personal career interest and values, degree plan requirments and ares of study, the positive value the student places on getting an A in the course, or simply personal expectations of doing well in school. The student's motivation level may also be influenced by the instructor's motivation and ability to provide encouragement, and training methods.
To give them examples and experience of real life application of what they learn from the class.
Use currently events and real life experiences that are up to date so the students can apply it immediately. Also, having students learn outside the classroom with hands-on learning definitely helps.
Motivating students is the key to success! It must start with you as the instructor!
simply by showing your own enthusiam related to the subject, and sharing accomplishments of both myself and former students.
To keep my students motivated, I need to be motivated and excited about the course. I try to incorporate fun projects, exercises and assignments that will make them think about why I'm having them do it and how it will pertain to their career goals.
