Many of my students also feel this way towards their General Education courses. When they come to my class, I remind them of why they took those courses, and use examples as to how they will employ those skills in my class.
I agree that students many times are interested only in the answer to the next exam. Once the information is tested on, the delete button is pushed to make room for the next test's information. What I have done is to not only mention important points, but to review previous materials in the next presentation to help undergird the entire topic. I have had a modicum of success with this and am open to ideas from coworkers to enhance the concept.
Hi Melanie,
Writing things down involves both tactile and visual engagement. The use of different senses and muscles enhance the retention rate of content to the benefit of the students. Good strategy.
Gary
Hi Randall,
This is often the case. The more we can help them to connect the dots between this course and their future the stronger their motivation levels are going to be. Some git it and some don't which is always frustrating for instructors.
Gary
Helping them retain is difficult to do, thats why i make them write things down instead of taking pictures of my lecture notes. i feel that id they are writing they are retain mor eof it. I also f=go over the lecture once in the begining and I recap at the end of the day.
-melanie
A lot of my students do not think the information presented relates to the field they are preparing to enter, and therefore believe they are just there to "get by" in the class. This falls back to the "don't care" kind of attitude as mentioned.
