Isn't it true?
It doesn’t’ matter what we teach; if we don't portray a "Positive Attitude", the message the student is to receive becomes convoluted?
It depends on the student. For one student the class is boring, to another it is why they decided to go back to school in the first place.
So I can be as positive as possible but the student still has to have an interest in the subject being taught.
A very thoughtful and well written response -Thank you Thomas!
I'm not Jamie, but I will respond just the same.
It's easy! You have to believe in what you do... If you don't believe; your audience will read you like a book. As soon as they do, your credibility goes right out the window. The message isn’t re-invention of the wheel; it’s a energized focus on why it goes around. Put the student into the scenario; give them a purpose to be involved in the discussion. Then they will not only hear others and their opinions, they will listen and learn from each other.
I think that at times we don't introduce life skills into the lessons. As you have stated, we have to reinvent the situation or the content to be delivered. I find that using the student as my black board of lecture content is one of the many keys we need to use. Drawing them into a problem (real life) then getting them as a group to discuss and problem solve as a group becomes a social skill and a personal skill that is continually sharpened as they are prepared for their new position or job. If they don’t get a chance to trip and fall, what makes them stronger to continue and solve daily issues?
Hi Jaime - It does work both ways. The instructor's enthusiam can be the catalyst to get her students excited. The trick is to constantly be reinventing your instruction so that you stay enthusiastic!
I agree. However each student is there for a differnent reason. We can be as positive as ever but if that student is only in class because they "have" to be it doesnt matter. The student has to want to learn. The more they want to learn the more positive & excited you and other students become. Excitement like that is infectious, its hard not to be positive if everyone around is. I think as instructors we become excited and positive when we see our students excell at what we taught them.
Hi Thomas - that is so true. We also have to make them understand why they need to know what we are teaching. What does it matter, how is it relevant, what will it mean to them in the future? If we can fill them with excitement about what they are learning we are doing our jobs!
