I have students go out to job site to observe or "shadow" as early as I can in their course work. It allows them to see how the course work can be applied. They usually come back very excited and it reinforces their choice of career. Sometimes though the student finds out maybe they might not like the career path they've taken and if after working/talking with them, they need to change. Even though we might have lost them in our area, helping them find what is right for them motivates them in their new choice.
I believe for instructors to be effective they must be entertaining. I have witnessed some professors with outstanding expertise be unable to get their points across.
Hi Amanda,
You make a good point about developing skills in the taking of history and hearing what you need to hear when you are talking with a client or patient. It is great that your students are being taught these skills plus having the opportunity to practice them.
Gary
Hi James,
You are doing a real service to and for your students when you help them to see the relevancy of what they are learning and how it can be applied to their career development. This is what keeps the motivation at a high level.
Gary
This also works well for vet tech students. The students can only learn so much about different techniques or how to communicate with clients through lecture, that is why I do a lot more hands on work in class or have guests come in so that the students can learn to take histories from them.
Make it real....take it out of the book and apply it to current situations happening in the world that students are aware of. I use lots of current events that relate to the course material we are covering. If you are teaching Business and Economics courses as I do, there is new material here every day. Students love to see that what we are learning in the course is useful in understanding and solving "real life" problems.
Hi Robert,
Good way to explain what it takes to be an effective instructor. The result will be a higher retention rate and more motivated students.
Gary
Motivating students to learn to me involves giving them real life situations which demonstrate experience needed to perform the tasks that will make them successfull
By being empathic, enthusiastic, energetic, engaging and offering your expertise educators can help to motivate their class.
Hi Jan,
You are doing a great job of bridging the gap between the classroom and real life. The more application and relevancy you can help your students to see the stronger they are going to be once they are out in the work world.
Gary
I encourage learning through having students share their learning experience with others through our Discussion Boards. They build a relationships with each other and learn together.
I also make sure to learn what they want to learn about a topic to enhance their skills in their fields. Maybe they are taking my class as a requirement, and don't see how it applies to their long term goals. I make sure to help them understand it can apply to their goals.
I encourage students to find newspaper, magazine, news stories etc. which demonstrate the concepts we have been talking about in class. It is one thing to hear about the concepts of supply chain, but if they can see how these concepts apply to real companies involved in real situations, they are more likely to stay motivated to learn more.
Ask probing questions. Encourage students to reflect and analyze in their responses, go beyond definition type answers and really work on applying the concepts to real world situations. If students can tie the work back to their jobs (or career aspirations) they are more likely to stay motivated in the class.
Demonstrate how students will use what they are learning. Provide students with concrete examples of why they need the knowledge.
Bringing in Chefs and experts in our field really act as motivators for our students. When I bring industry professionals to grade and evaluate competitions, the students see first hand what knowledge and experience can bring. The students become rejuvenated and excited about the prospect of meeting and talking with chefs in the industry.
We also take field trips to restaurants/bakeries/hotels to evaluate and critique food and pastries. The students are really motivated by these type of assignments, since again it gives them real life experience and applications to what they are studying here at school.
Hi Jamie,
By you showing them the connection between what they are studying and how it will apply to their careers you are demonstrating the relevancy of your field. They have to see that the course content has been chosen for the value they will get from the their efforts and your sharing of our expertise.
Gary
My favorite technique is to relate the knowledge they are gaining to real world examples. Case studies in their specific professional fields is one obvious method. It's important to keep in mind that this approach may work for some students, but not for others. As with most things, variety is essential.
Hi Arthur,
In doing this you are helping to make "real" the next step in their career development, entering the world of work. By having some knowledge and expertise in handling these obstacles and challenges your students are going to be better prepared to progress in their careers.
Gary
The best motivating technique that i use for my students is, being able to relate to the many obstacles and challenges which we share and that they will soon come across in our field.
Hi Anthony,
Good point about hands on learning. By involving the tactile as well as the cognitive students have a higher level of content retention. They also see the relevancy and application of the material through this method.
Gary
