Get Your Students Hired
I always try to incorporate professional experiences in the lectures, give examples and let the students have a "feel" of situations that thety might encounter in their choice carreer .Discuss these experiences and challenge them to answer what would they do if it happens to tem.Students are always interested in these experiences and respomd very well to these exposures.
It has been my experience to relate vivid, realistic issues and experiences they can relate too. People have a great tendency to want to know what real life experiences are truly about. It is in my practice to motivate and help students realize they can learn from all walks of people, and I have often utilize applied academics. Things that they can actually relate to the everyday work place and life.
I've been able to allow them to share basic or unique life experiences that have helped them learn about their ability to solve personal issues. I found that even simple short writing prompts have helped them realize that they can think critically and utilize a variety of communcation skills to improve on their listening, writing, reading, and speaking skills. Allow the student to be able to relate basic life skills that they have developed in their own life experience and share it with instructor and student peers. It is an avenue that they can still grow, develop and achieve to be able to go beyond the fears of going back to school.
I believe if you spend time on their PK (prior knowledge) it would help the student realize that knowledge gained from past instruction or experience is usable in their efforts to learn to apply the PK from the past to the present. They must realize that somewhere along the line of life they did gain even the most common knowledge in order to maintain everyday basic productivity.
I believe that it is most important for instructors to fully understand and be excited about the subject matter. Motivated learners will pursue information and want to soak up as much as they can. There is nothing worse than being forced to sit in a class and listen to an instructor that is bored to death or has a negative attitude. Negative feelings are contagious and poison to the classroom.
Relate material to "real-life" situations, therefore providing them with situations that will increase their productivity in the future.
Brenna,
This is a good way to get students engaged in the learning process. Your field has so many components I am sure you will be able to share odd medical facts with them for years to come. Sounds like a fun course.
Gary
I like to incorporate odd medical facts to engage their interest. I also find it helpful to quiz them on what we have covered so they can see realize their progress. I find this helps students go from intimidated to confident.
Marie,
Good way to keep the content alive in the minds of the students. This is one of the fun parts of being an educator, trying to make something that is not the most exciting, exciting. Lets us be creative.
Gary
I agree with the "keeping positive" attitude, even with dry material. Humor helps, as well. In teaching a very dry and technical class, I try to use personal examples and experiences to add interest. I, also, let the students in on the "teaching", giving them a section to present to thier fellow students.
I agree with your idea of a positive attitude. I also find that when the subject matter gets a little dry, adding a snippet from my past experience in the field-good or bad-goes a long way towards capturing the students'attention again and usually starts a good conversation.
I believe one must use different teaching methods and incorporate activities into the teaching. I tend to use lots of hands-on activities, along with the "see one, do one, teach one" method. Once the students see the relevance in what they are learning, the light bulb goes off and they are more motivated to be able to teach the next student how to perform the task at hand.
Kathryn,
Good way to reinforce the progress that students are making. Sometimes they forget how far they have come unless they are reminded throughout the course.
Gary
I like to have students list their learning expectations/goals on the first day of class. As the course progresses, we revisit those periodically while continuing the content of the course objectives. It shows I value their goals too!
Diane,
Students need to see the ROI of what they are studying. By showing them the future value of what they are learning you are engaging them in their career development and future
Gary
One way of motivating students is to show them how the course is relevant for their career choice. Also, when grading papers do not just mark up the paper, but begin with and end with a positive comment. A little encouragement can go a long way.
Learners, particularly adult learners like to share their knowledge. One of the effective methods I use daily is to have the learners put "ah ha" moments from their readings on the board in a colored marker. Then present their moments of clarity to the class. Each student has a different level of clarity and is able to express what was important to them that may support the learning of another student. It also provides students the opportunity to shifts in thinking and experience how to look at concepts from different points of view.
Patricia,
Always enjoy hearing from instructors that love their field, feel honored to be able to teach about it, and know that they are impacting lives. I wish you much continued success.
Gary