Hi James,
You have a good start on how you are going to work with your students. You are using an industrial approach since that is where your students are going to work. By using the standards of the industry and encouraging them as they work through the skill development phase you are going to be preparing your students to be successful in the workplace. Keep up the positive reinforcement and both you and your students are going to enjoy learning.
Gary
First you have to know I am new to this. I am attempting to teach automotive. What I think about is what I would want my boss to say to me. Maybe pull a student aside and say I need you to step up your game a little, show me what you can do with what you got, don't be afraid to ask me or someone else when you are unsure. And when they are done with a task that was difficult for them tell them they did a good job, pat on the back sort of thing. I think if you show a little respect and appreciation it sinks in. We all want to know we did good.
The students need to know how they will benefit from learning about your subject matter. Try to make it personal to them.
Hi Maggie,
Great to hear about the change of mind your students have had about your course. This says that you are meeting their needs and providing content they find valuable. Keep up the good work.
Gary
I try to have discussion topics that takes information from the class and has the students apply it to their specific career field. Starting with small groups are less intimidating than a whole class discussion. It is then easier to bring out all ideas and application in the whole class discussion. Also I have current event topics for homework. I find that this helps the students to see the relevance in taking my class. I have found that some students have changed their minds for the better about my course.
Among the most important ways I use to motivate and excite students are encouraging them; always pointing out their strengths and helping them make the best out of their weaknesses. I find that positive attitude benefits students a great deal in the process of overcoming learning obstacles.
Hi James,
Right you are. Excitement is contagious and the more instructors share it the more engaged their students will be.
Gary
I recently started a new class, and through lecture and demonstration of what I know very well helps me overcome any anxiety. It instills confidence in yourself, and provides students the perception that their instructor is knowledgeable about the subject they are learning.
Yes, it is a lot easier to motive students when you can give them real life examples from your own life. I still remember when I was in graduate school taking a business law class. It was a very dry subject but our instructor a former judge made it very interesting by giving us examples from his courtroom.
I try to do the same, always give my students real life examples and share my experiences.
A good way to make a class interesting is to bring guest speakers especially when you teach a class where you have limited personal experiences.
When I give my intial welcome I instill in them what a great industry they are getting into. I always try to be upbeat and excited. If the instructor is excited about their particular profession I think it carries over to the students.
By my enthusiasum for my profession and explaining the benefits. Telling real life experiences, both rewarding and challenging.
Taking them on Field trips, where they see and touch products and learn from other professionals in the business.
As an Interior Designer Instructor, I find it hard to get students motivated to learn the technical work. They are interested mostly in the design aspect(colors, products,etc.) of the project and not the technical drawings( such as floor plans).
That is a great way to keep them engaged. In a previous class I taught I had the students bring in two relevant news stories each week. It caused them to learn more about the industry they were going into and to be more engaged in their own learning. I should do that again...
I definitely agree with sharing your life experiences. They are typically more interesting than the book and is easier to keep the attention of the entire class.
Hi Will,
You are helping students to see application by doing what you are doing. Application and transference are two big words that need to be used in gen ed courses. By using these words the students will start to see that there is reason behind them having to take such courses.
Gary
Hi Alexandria,
Great to hear. Developing rapport with students to me is one of the greatest pay offs of our work. Once we have that rapport and respect with students they view us in a mentor role as well as their instructor. I have the honor of hearing from students that I had years ago. They share both their personal and professional lives with me and I get to witness their journey through life. What a great feeling to know I had a small part in helping them to be successful in their careers.
Gary
I teach in the GENEd curriculum so for me it is a little more difficult to cater the subject their area of study. I do try and in the past, I have made the students come up with real-life problems, using the math concepts we are learning to their area. At the very least I tell students that math teaches them to follow a series of steps to solve a problem.
Gary,
Thank you so much. Developing rapport is a essential part of teaching, isn't it? When I first started teaching, I wasn't quite sure how to approach it, but I've slowly developed good instincts in that department.
Alexandria
My students seem more motivated when I bring real world examples from my company into our Intro to Business class. I have them read the assigned chapter before coming to class. We go through the lecture notes. Then we provide the real world examples and discuss situations from thier work experiences as a class, or in small groups. They seem more motivated when the concepts are tied to situations they have lived.
