I think that students need to understand the relationship of the material to their profession, know what is expected of them and like material presented to them in a variety of ways. They want to see an insructor that is interesting and knows the subject matter presented.
Having a positive attitude about course content...make the course as interesting as possible...be knowledgeable about the course content...relate the course content to the students...use relevant examples...make it practical
I realize that if I want my students to be excited about the course I am teaching, then I must be excited!! Enthusiasm breeds enthusiasm and that is true no where more than the classroom.
I believe that motivating students and giving lots of positive feedback is the key to great classroom management and excellent learning. I try to carefully assess my students and pay close attention to those that are less confident. I enter each course determined to find the best quality in each student and use that quality to help them learn!
it is always a pleasure seeing a student finally understanding their chosen path and the look in their eyes
I believe you have to find out what motivates each student. some students are motivated be grades, some by a since of accomplishment, others by emoition...felling good about what they've done and some by reward. once you assess what motivates a person, you can draw them into the subject.
Begin by putting the learner into a first person situation & have them relate to the application, making it tangible to them. The next level is if they already have had a first hand experience in the particular application.
Hi Seth,
An observant instructor is one that can "read" the class and then make adjustments as needed. This is really reflective of a professional educator.
Gary
I've noticed my class really gets excited when we're able to do hands-on lab work. Although sometimes it's difficult to plan relevant labs for each particular unit, the class really seems to excel during lab times.
The trick is finding a balance and adjusting to it to make it the best possible learning experience for the class. It's a tricky thing to get right, especially since each class dynamic is different. What works for one class won't necessarily work for them all.
Hi Gregory,
This is a great example of application and transference. You are showing students how their career area can affect themselves and their family in an indirect way not generally thought about. This graphic example should set them up for wanting to learn more about other situations that can result from the career area they are preparing to enter.
Gary
Being a relatively new instructor has its challenges but I find that by relaying my experiences from the military and from the civilian sector has been very helpful. The students can hear and learn about the various hospitals and environments I have had the opportunity to be in and see how those experiences have insprired me and has created a great passion for my career as a surgical technologist but also as an instructor.
One of the things I find helpful is to show the relevance of the subject matter in every day life. For instance, the production of bacteria with acrylic nails versus natural nails. By explaining that the layer between the acrylic nail and the natural can hold bacteria harmful to the wearer of the acrylic nail and to a patient receiving care from the wearer of the acrylic nails can make a lasting impression on the students. I often ask "Why would I want to take something harmful home to my family when I could have avoided that by following the guidelines set by the profession and the facility that I work in?" Most of the students understood what was said and complied almost immediately.
Hi Patricia,
I enjoy hearing stories like this. All these years later this instructor stands out in your mind because she cared about you and your success. This is the impact we instructors hope to have on the lives of our students and we can by developing rapport with them and providing support when needed.
Gary
I remember when I was accepted into LVN school. I was young and impressionable. For the most part my instructors would teach but this one instuctor took time out from teaching. She shared different ways, in which, we could go about meeting our goals. She also made it a point to tell us not to forget to reward ourselves when we reach milestones along the way. That was in 1980 and I still remember her to this day.
I can motivate students by helping them to see the progress they are making toward their career goal, how the course is related to their future job and give them enough credit for the effort that they are making in learning the subject.
A guest speaker or a field trip should help motivating the students.
Hi Tom,
I am glad to hear that you are having a positive experience by using the life experiences of your students to the benefit of yourself and your students. I have been in the same situation many times and have had the same results as you. The class benefits from the extensive experience of the students and I have never had any negative results from letting the class know that I am going to depend on the expertise that is available in the class. It is a win win for everyone.
Gary
I have been teaching a course where several of the students have pockets of experience greater than mine. I explained this at the first class and presented myself humbly as the person who would work hard to make the concepts understandable for everyone. I explained that I would draw on the experiences from the students where they were willing and this would work.
I think this humble and honest approach has worked well. In my experience, the "real world" is often like this: organizers and managers have less knowledge about the tasks to be done. As the teacher, I am expected to be able to teach what is needed and expand it in ways that the textbooks don't provide, not to know it all.
Hi Virginia,
Students really like to hear these stories since they know you have such extensive experience in the field and have worked through most situations that they are going to encounter in their careers.
Keep sharing them and letting them know about the world they are going to enter.
Gary
Hi Peggy,
Great sequence of how you work through the delivery of content to students. Each step reinforces what they have learned and how they can use the new information.
Gary
First find out what level of knowledge the student has, then present the information needed to learn the skill. Give them some scenarios in the use of the skill and personal experience. Then do the demonstration of the skill and allow the student to do a return demonstation. Give the student feedback and let them return demonstration when they feel comfortable doing it again.
Any time you can provide real-world examples that hit as close to home as possible, students seem to understand better and become more interested in the topic at hand. It gives them a springboard to ask questions and makes the subject more tangibla.
