Pygmalion Effect
As an instructor, the Pygmalion effect will be great if you use it in a positive way. Telling the class today's lecture will be interesting, the exercises will be fun, achieving a higher wpm in typing gives them better opportunities when they start looking for a job, etc.
When I group students, I make sure that there is always a student who would be positive enough to help the other students in the group.
Giving positive comments encourages students to have a positive outlook regarding that module. They arrive to class excited with what that day will bring. What new ideas they will learn, what new skills they can apply that will get them ready to work.
All these helps motivate for the students to come to class.
I am a true advocate of letting my students know that I hold high expectations of them and that have to try to meet their own expectations as well. This motivates the students to work harder because they begin to believe in themselves.
at the beginning of each new module, I tell the students that nothing in this module is impossible to do and that all of you can achieve what it is that you want (if is an A you can achieve it, if it a B so forth and so on)
If you give me 110% of yourself, I will give you a 150% of myself but nothing will be "free" you need to apply yourself first and if you do not understand or comprehend, i will be there for you to explain till you understand and comprehend, I will not abandon you.
I have also been using this technique without realizing it. I consistently tell my students the tasks performed in the lab are not as difficult as what was perceived, and they are more apt to try new tasks with less hesitation. I have also had students say they got a better grade than expected even though the work seemed more difficult.
I found the Pygmalion effect very interesting and have been doing it without realizing it. Throughout my VN 101 class, I told my students that they are all intelligent, critical thinkers who will succeed in the course. I truly believed that they would become active as opposed to passive learners. I was amazed by the result. All of them passed the final and all of them passed the course. Now I am convinced of the power of positive reinforcement.
When I group students, I make sure that there is always a student who would be positive enough to help the other students in the group.
I really like the idea of setting the student up for success by telling them they are capable of earning an "A", and then describing what is necessary to do in order to EARN the "A". That is really the key...giving clear objectives, making sure what the student is learning speaks to the objectives, and keeping them on track to success. I will definitely be setting my next group of students up to earn their "A's"!
Without knowing I’ve been using the Pygmalion tech since day one. I like to keep the student engage in class and help them to believe they can do any assignment. Believing on the student make them believe in themselves.
I find this to be very true, especially on test days or the day before tests. Students seem to get overwhelmed and bogged down, but I always make sure I encourage them to remember that they know this information, and that 'I am positive they will do well'. It always makes them cheer up immediately and when the test day arrives, they are not as anxious about the test and do well.
Marlo
i totally agree. When encouraging the students in a positive way, they do come excited and eager to learn more.
I felt that this was the most important information in this class. I have and always will believe very strongly in the Power of Positive Thinking. The Pygmalion Effect is the perfect tool for any Instructor in that it shows how if one person can think a thing another person can do the thing.It also resembles "Teleological Thinking"in that the mind will ALWAYS go in the direction of it's belief structure...Paul T. Rougemont
I agree Marlo. This works really well. I use it alot. First I find out which students have been into prerequisite courses and I will group them with students who have not. This arrangement greatly increases the learning of the entire class.
I tell my class as a whole that there is no one present who is not capable of earning a grade of "A", then describe what is necessary to do to live up to that potential.
I always begin my course by telling my students I know they can all get "A"s in my class. I encourage them throughout the course to keep their "A"s
Absolutely true, when you surround yourself with positive thinking and positive environment it will bring positve results.
The Pygmalion effect is powerful whether in the classroom or online---leading to the can attitude.
It is this motivation of can that leads students to be "finishers" and to not quit!
A professor online ended her student feedback (which was both positive and with recommended improvements) with "Cheering you ever onward!"
These ending words have impact in the virtual world of online education with encouragement.
I agree. Students thrive in a positive environment, even if it is indirect positivity.
