As a fashion designer, I always try to be updated with recent activities and events related in the industry like Grammy's and Oscars and I share with them own list of favorite best and worst dressed celebrities. It gets them motivated talking about these dresses, the designs, fabrics, accessories used.
Hi Robin,
Passion for your field is so important to students. They will "catch" the excitement if they see and sense it in you. I am amazed at instructors that don't get excited about sharing the content of their field. This is one of the fun parts of teaching as far as I am concerned. Get to work in the field, share your knowledge and get paid as well. This is as good as it gets.
Gary
Part of increasing student motivation for me is showing the class I am motivated not only as an instructor but as a professional. I think if a class can feel your passion for the area it is very infective and they will be motivated to do well and show their passion for the class and in return their future profession.
I feel one of the key strategies for increasing student motivation is making a connection with the students. I believe that if a student respects, and admires a teacher, it will motivate them to do well. They do not want to let down the teacher they look up to.
Hi William,
I like this approach. You are opening doors of opportunity to students so they can expand their knowledge and exposure to the world. Good communication skills are essential to success in a career. If the students have such skills they will be better able to communicate with their employees as well as their customers. Not to mention opening up the world of fine literature and the classics.
Gary
I teach English at a culinary school. I give my students two primary motivations to work hard in my class: becoming a better communicator, and becoming a better human being. Understanding grammar and effective use of language is, of course, essential. But I also assure them that the literature we read and subsequent discussions we have are dealing with the very things that make us human and life worth living. It's a bold claim, but I find that the best way to inspire people that normally don't read, travel, visit museums, etc. is to show them (and convince them) all of the wonderful things that they're missing. Dickens, Austen, Shakespeare, Frost...
I have found by finding some common ground of intrest related to student and coures of study will keep them clearly focused on the main goal.Notice i didnt say common ground between student and instructor this defintly a no no.
It is important to inform the students how much the activity will help them in the future career of choice. Always bringing it into the real-world is beneficial for each student.
I have some encouragement for the writing and communication educators. I teach computer courses, IT and software development. I've enjoyed the results from "challenging" my students with essay questions in their homework and tests. IT professionals are too commonly dismissed as unable to communicate or focused on the one right answer. My professional experience has shown just the opposite, that technology people can be extra effective by bridging the gap between the technological elite and the other people who have need for solutions. Teaching our students to write and speak will be one of the most valuable "technical" skills they ever learn.
I think is important that the students share their goals with each other as it will give them motivation to work as a team since they are all working towards the same goal.
Demonstrate by examples how this elective course can make a difference in their professional life. That is relevant to their career aspriations and can make a difference for them.
In one particular instance I found that showing the students what they had learned to that point in class got them excited about new and challenging material. It showed them they had learned more than they thought they had to that point. It also established their focus on the new content with a renewed vigor. Kevin
Again, getting to know the students' and the class' personalities will give you insight on how to motivate. In an area (Criminal Justice) where the career options are many, it is important to undrstand, as much as possible, what the students are going to be doing when they graduate. You can then tailor the instruction methods and, to a certain extent, even the material, to fit the students and their expectations. Knowing that you care and that you are willing to adjust to student needs is, in itself, a powerful motivator.
meeting students individually to access their learning needs, using a/v, article that match student needs.
Hi Liz,
indeed, that sharing personal experiences can grasp the audience attention. Students do learn from others personal experiences and the cirucmstance can further be evaluated to better optimize other solutions.
Asking good questions can evaluate alternative and creative answers by brainstorming the topic as a group. Clarifying and adding to the reading topic by applying personal experience in which the students can relate to is also a technique prtacticed,.
When I review the syllabus with students during the first class session, I try to show how the core objectives of the class are related to their overall objectives in their chosen career fields. To do that, I have each student introduce him or herself and identify which program he or she is in. Then, as I review the objectives, I make specific examples relating to those program areas.
I also use ice breaker in my class. One of my personal favorites is to have each student mention one thing that we, the class, would never guess about that student. It can be anything from a love of pro wrestling to having visited exotic places, or anything the student is comfortable sharing. I also share something about myself to get the activity started (I worked as a singing telegram messenger when I was in college).
I believe that the more comfortable a person feels in a new environment, the more motivated he or she will feel about being successful.
Hi Chad,
This is an important point. Students want to know the WIIFM (What's In It For Me) plus the ROI (Return On Investment). By showing them in relation to currency you are setting the stage for their success and motivation.
Gary
John, you ought to be a law professor... ;-)
As I read through the different motivation strategies (I confess that I didn't read them all ;-), I see many areas where I can improve. One area that I always try to use, whether I am teaching a core curriculum class or a general Ed course, is finding a way to tie the question "How much money can I make?" into the skills the students will learn. Money is a huge motivator and if an instructor can convincingly show the students that the skills they will learn in the course directly relate to money earned, motivation happens...
