When motivating students you should be able to present an example of how motivation works. When dealing with motivation it could be that you are learning quicker than expected, learning more about specific topics are that the student becomes self motivated from the simple act of learning and progression.
Using industry leaders as speakers and taking students on field trips are great way to keep students interested and motivated.
Examples that tie in to the real life relevance of a lab or lecture they are engaged in, especially if the result of that example achieved seems advantageous to them or creates a desire to acquire it. (money, respect, acclaim,etc.)
Hi Jerome,
I really like your approach. I to am very strict on language. I am a professional and the students are training to be professionals, thus "we" are going to act like professionals. We will dress and speak like professionals while we develop the knowledge and skills required of the profession. End of story. Your use of the flip chart is a great way of illustrating what is expected of the students and what happens when they don't adhere to the standards of their profession.
Gary
Hi Anna,
Good exercise with practical application. This is instruction at the its' finest. Keep up the good work.
Gary
Hi Erica,
Students love stories and when they know you were a former student yourself they can really relate to what you are saying. I firmly believe that many students think instructors just exist as vapors and appear during teaching time and then disappear once their instructional time is over. So by see you as being human they understand that you understand where they are coming from.
Gary
Young students (mail and femail) have grown accustom to to injecting an f-bomb or two or three into every sentence of a conversation. Our goal is to prepair each student for an entry level position in the automotive industry. The main attribute of a good employee is the ability to communicate with the customer in a professional manner. An F-Bomb laden vocabulary is not the least bit professional. When new students enter my classroom the are greeted with a notice written on the white board declairing this room to be an F-Bomb Free Zone. Next to the white board is a large paper flip chart Stating "My name is on this list because I have failed to expand my vocabulary and now I have a professionalism infraction". When a student puts his/her name on the list, along with the accompanying peer pressure it doesn't take long for them to be concious of what words they use to communicate. Loss of grade points is a powerful motivator to hold students accountable for their future.
The motivation technique that I feel works best is a hands on approach. In my textile designs class I utilize a basic paper cutting exercise that is most effective in reinforcing the foundation to all print design.
The longer I teach, the more I understand the motivating value of examples. Students love examples. Heck, we all do, whether it is an example of a product or process. Examples, examples, examples. Students crave them.
Hi Paul,
I think this would be great. The opportunity to show their abilities to others plus be of service to the charity partner should be a great motivator plus an incentive for other students.
Gary
Hi Emma,
You are right on with your comment about the need to target your praise for students. This is really customizing instruction to meet their specific needs of praise, support and encouragement. Well done. Keep up the good work.
Gary
I always share a few stories with my students about my challenges throughout Culinary School. It seems to make them feel more comfortable coming to me with their problems. I think it helps them relate to me a little bit better and in turn they feel like I might just understand what they are going through. I especially love opening up the shy students. Sometimes they just need a little confidence boost to feel like they realy belong in the group and then they really start to shine.
I’m not clear on how this motivates learners. By volunteering them for your charity? I don’t understand how they would feel needed or valued. Could you elaborate a little more?
One that I might offer is to give a high-achieving student the opportunity to do a volunteer cooking demonstration for one of our charity partners. I think it would show the student that they are needed and valued.
I think one of the biggest motivation techniques is to give praise to each student, but not all the time and not the same praise for everyone, but to personally identify a strength each individual student has, and maybe a constructive criticism at the same time that will help them acell in an area that they may not be as strong in.
Hi Bruce,
I like it. You are getting your students pumped up and ready for the tests. They need that to reduce their nerves and let them get settled into the class and ready for the test.
Gary
Hi Kevin,
You are doing all of the right things when it comes to student support. You are right on in your comments about the need for immediate feedback for students. I to use the next class meeting rule for returning work or graded tests. This shows the students you are working to keep the informed of their progress and status in the class. No one likes to be left hanging in terms of knowing how they are doing in a course. Keep up the great work you are doing in corresponding with your students in a quick and consistent manner.
Gary
Hi Todd,
Great way to get the blood flowing and the mind working for your students. Early mornings can be tough and instructors need to do things like you are doing to get the students "ramped" up to learn.
Gary
I like to give motivational speeches before tests/practicals. What I say to each class depends on what I feel each class needs to hear. In general, I tell them to relax (insert corny joke to lighten the mood), and that they can do it! Focus on what you know, have a plan and execute it. If the class is doing well, and doesn't need to hear the above, I'll move into a "Win one for the Gipper" type of speech
I find that bringing guest speakers that are industry leaders act as a great motivator
