Motivation
I have several younger students that always ask when they will be dismissed from my weekly 3 hour research methods course. This tends to set the tone for the class. Soon, other students begin to zone out or fail to participate, even though they were talkative prior to the comments from the complainers. I try to lighten the mood, but once that negativity is out there, it is difficult to get people excited about the material. Any suggestions?
Also, when they don't understand the material that I am covering, they don't want to discuss what they don't understand, but they make faces to let me know that they aren't getting it. I can understand their frustration, but they don't want to listen when I go over it again, even if I give new examples or try to approach the material another way. Any suggestions?
Thank you.
Jen
Hi Jen
Try telling them that their will be a quiz at the end of each class. You will put them in teams and they will compete against each other. The winning team will be awarded a small prize.
I have found that they are highly motivated to listen and learn in order to participate in the quiz and win the prize. The sense of achievement and validation is priceless and even the losing teams are motivated to do better next time!
Hi Ebonie,
This has been my experience as well in using student groups. They learn to work with others just as they will have to in the work place so they need to develop their social interaction skills as well as their specific skills sets.
Gary
I also like the idea of placing students in groups. I find that if I group the students with other students that they normally dont associate with it changes their normal habit of chatting and it also give them opportunity to work with others that they have not worked with. By giving the groups discussion questions it helps them to see other points of view from diffrent students as well so I think that these things really help the entire class.
Hi Jen,
I have had these issues. I found that using a projector, lap top with the learning disc on the subject. Play Jeopardy,hangman. The students had a blast. They learned the topic, and it stopped the little click's from occuring.
Debra
Hi Jen,
Is there a way for you to put them into small groups and have them do case studies or problem solving? I have taught a research methods course and I followed this format and it worked well for my students. I gave them content on a method and then had them work through possible solutions using their newly acquired knowledge. This change of pace plus application kept them engaged and focused on the course.
Gary
