
One of the best ways to motivate learners is to highlight how the material being taught relates to their chosen career.
hELP STUDENTS TO SEE THE PROGRESS THEIR MAKING TOWARDS THEIR CAREER GOALS & USE KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS ASAP. tHIS WAY THEY WILL BE MOTIVATED AND GET EXCITED ABOUT THE COURSE.
Peggy,
Having graduates come in serves as powerful motivators for students. I use them in my classes as well and my students really ramp up their efforts after a visit.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I believe students get motivated when they see past students in jobs that they are in after graduation. I either have the graduate come and talk to the business class or take them to a site that employs our graduates. Then I form groups in class and have them come up with their own massage business so they can picture success.
Trinity,
Good point and one that is important not only for the students but for we instructors ourselves. Being excited about our field helps us to stay engaged and motivated to share with our students.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Like you said in the course- be excited yourself. Create activities that help them use their information - in a fun way if possible. If there is a way- tailor it so they have some choice over the topic or way they apply the information.
Pat, I agree. The adult learner need direct converstaions from thier instructors. Listening to them and helping map out the success they will have opens their eyes to where they want to go and why they returned to school in the first place.
I always let them know of my history and how I was in their shoes many years ago and let them know how I made it through. I become their rock to give them everything I have to make it through the program. I become a professional friend that can help them through every step of their education. When they come in tired and with problems I listen then show them how to over come the problems and explain that the new career will help fix a lot of the problems they are having they need to look into the future a lot of the times to see themselves in the new career.
I am an Accounting Instructor who teaches at a Junior College. My Accounting I students have various levels of background knowledge and are pursuing different majors from Criminal Justice, Medical, Information Technology and Business concentrations. I have noticed that student motivation can be increased by constantly connecting the relevance of the course material to the different students' main concentration of study.
David,
Well said and a good point. Smiles go a long long way in creating a positive image in the minds of students.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I give examples of how what they will learn can be applied in the workplace. When teaching spreadsheets, we look at comparisons from month to month--versus prior month for example. We prepare budgets based on their own work experiences and use data that students create.
This is a simple topic. Look in a mirror if you smile, the person looking back at you in the mirror will smile back. Same is true in the classroom. If you are excited about what is about to be taught that day, the students will be excited to hear what you have to say. You would never start a lecture with "This will be the most boring class that you have me for this term." Students are not going to be very motivated to listen to the next sentence let alone the next two hours of lecture.
I agree. As an adult working full time, taking classes, and still trying to manage a family, taking classes can be very overwhelming, so much so that as a student you just try to get the work done and over with, without stopping to determine how the class might help you in the future. The instructor needs to help the student see how the class applies to the real world, in a job setting.
John,
This strategy is a powerful motivator for students. They can see themselves in the same setting as those students that have graduated and are now working in their field.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Show pass results from students and letting them know that their goals are within reach.
- Listen carefully and pay attention to what I'm saying.
- Remind them that they are here to learn not only to take tests and have grades.
- Be passionate about learning new things.
James,
I commend you for this balanced approach in providing student support. Your students are being provided with customized interventions and instruction based upon their situations. This is what reduces drop outs and increases student engagement.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Roderick,
I agree. When you provide them with opportunities to apply what they are learning you are showing them relevance to the course content. As you say application and relevance are both good motivators.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Hello Dr. Gary,
As the associate registrar at a college of food, I am often faced with advising our population of students at-risk of school failure. To motivate the student, I work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and parents to address their unique needs. In terms of their academic progress, I encourage constructivist teaching and learning strategies, encouraging students to work in groups, work part-time in the field of practice, and utilize multimedia resources to complete course objectives whenever possible.