Motivating Learners
What are some ways you can help your students to become motivated and excited about your course?
Wayne,
Good way to get them to see the investment they are making in their future. This increases the ROI for the students and helps them see why they are in school in the first place.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think it is important to emphasize the importance of their life goals and how their current learning is contributing to where they want to be in the next 5 years or so.
Debra,
This is a very comprehensive plan for engaging students and helping them to see the value of the content being shared. As you mention this way always touches on the different learning preferences students have and this increases their focus on learning.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Kristen,
My students really like role playing and solving case studies. They help them to make application of the knowledge that have been acquiring.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe to get students motivated about the course an instructor needs to show passion for the subject. Discovering what type of learners there is in the class and introducing a variety of ways to cover the topic. For example reading the chapter for homework, discussing any issues the next day, incorporating the students to iniate the questions and answers, play games to cover the subject area, and have the student research projects discovering the positive and negative about the subject. Projects may vary from essays, charts, posters, powerpoints, or role play. Trying to change up the instruction and touch all types of learning. One way may not be as fun for some, but is for others, but all must participate. This also helps to aid in social skills that will be required for the real world.
give them actual scenarios to choose from and ask them to act out in class how to successfully deal with.
Claire,
Good book to work from as an instructor.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The book Tools for Teaching by Barbara Gross Davis suggests:
•Give frequent, early, positive feedback that supports students' beliefs that they can do well.
•Ensure opportunities for students' success by assigning tasks that are neither too easy nor too difficult.
•Help students find personal meaning and value in the material.
•Create an atmosphere that is open and positive.
•Help students feel that they are valued members of a learning community
Gurkan,
Thank you for these comments about how to engage and motivate learners. You are right about the need to make a connection between the course content and the life experiences of students. By doing so instructors increase the value of the content while increasing the buy in from the students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It is important to first identify that although there may be various means to motivate individuals, each motivational approach may have its own degree of impact upon an audience member. Generally speaking, as the distance between goals/objectives of both the instructor(s) and student(s)is minimized, the ability to be motivated and effectiveness to motivate is amplified (considering the commonality of interest.) A popular method instructors can use in motivating and exciting students is through personal achievements and memorable experiences. By applying real life experiences as a token to motivate, instructors have the ability to influence students in reaching an overall goal of value (upheld by the student).
Diana,
These are the moments we live for. I get so excited when I see they are "getting it" and I know I am impacting their career development.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The "ah ha" moment of learning is a great idea. It supports the fact that if one teaches a subject they learn it more deeply. Those sharing moments then become your "cheerleading" session, which in turn motivates them to receive that positive reinforcement again and again.
Thank you Dr. Meers, I appreciate the time and effort that you as well as other facilitators give to us striving to become better at what we do? It is a joy to know that if we need assistance and guidance, you all are available.
Thanks again
LT
Lisa,
I have taught a long side some of these instructors. Their jobs are tough because the students don't respect them and they don't respect themselves or they would put more effort into their preparation and teaching. I enjoy teaching and have for many years. The joy I get from working with the next generation of professionals preparing to enter my field is worth all the effort I put into preparation and delivery.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Some instructors work just to bring in a paycheck, and the students can tell because there is usually no passion for what they are doing as it relates to teaching. So in order for us to motivate our students about success, we first have to be motivated about why we are there. Is it for the money, or do we genuinely care about the successful outcome of our students?
We need to come to class with a positive attitude, be prepared, and do our homework as well. Leave personal issues where they resignated.
LT
Kenisha,
You are so right. If we do not bring passion for our content and enthusiasm for teaching it then it is for sure our students won't be excited either.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Well first of all, we the educators have to be excited about the content and course being delivered. One of the best ways to Motivate is by Modeling! These two go hand in hand. If we Model excitement we will in return get excitement back from the students. Of course you may have one or two that want to be difficult; but if we keep Modeling, that too will change!
Denise,
This is a great way to keep your students engaged in their own career progress. You are reminding them that they are making progress toward their future as a result of the different reminders of the expectations they have written down.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
On the first day of classes I ask the students to write down their top 3 expectations of the course. At the midterm we go over those expectations and revise them if needed. On the last day of the course we discuss their expectations and how this would fit into their professional roles and how they can utilize their expectations throughout their program of study.
