I try to understand where my students want to go in their field and offer them additional opportunities and supplemental info to help them toward their goals. They appreciate my interest and want to take advantage of what I'm offering. It's great to see them light up.
That being said, I don't think I could do this if I had a large class. Small classes are ideal.
Hi Michael,
You make a number of very good points about how we can motivate students as well as some good reasons why motivation can slip away as the term progresses. A constant challenge to keep the students focused on the end result and their futures.
Gary
Hi Bianca,
Good example of a motivation method. Personal experiences help the students to see instructors as being real people as well as experienced professionals.
Gary
Hi Melissa,
Good point. This makes our job harder as instructors. We need to make sure that we have prepared ourselves to the maximum degree possible so our students will bring their knowledge to the classroom and we add to it.
Gary
I like to use the portal to links of examples of the work we are doing in class. The students are able to see how the technique in other settings and applications and how it might appear in an actual work setting. They also might be able to see examples of industry professionals they admire.
Whenever possible, show that what they are learning has real-world, practical value that will help them in the future in their career. Give examples where certain things they are learning will be vital to the success or failure of a specific project.
Motivation can be a bit of a trick, especially as the term wears on, or the subject matter begins to reflect on itself. Many students have what it takes to be internally motivated but are discouraged by their fellow classmates attitudes, or the morays of the group. In for-profit education there can be a sense that even low achievers move on as equally as the high achievers, this can breed ennui. Unfortunately, fear still is a big motivator; fear of failure, loss of job, econimic status shifting, etc. The seems to be, as the tutorial suggests, to be fair, but to also be consistent.
The most motivating techique I have found to be effective is when teachers give a little story of how they arrived at their profession and some of the life challenges they had to deal with along the way. This has a powerful impact on a student to see that someone else has had similar life challenges and has acheived their goal, it lets them beleive that it can be done.
My husband is a chef and a culinary school graduate. We spend a good amount of time watching Food Network and America's Test Kitchen! I can see how these shows have raised the bar for learning! Students can access so much information 24/7, they are looking for something fresh in the classroom.
Melissa
I agree that the most effective motivation factors are related to personal growth and career achievement. When students can connect with the content and the content becomes meaningful, the learning and interest reaches a whole new level. This connectin is also what motivates me as an instructor!
Melissa
As an instructor, I like to survey students in the beginning of the class to see what they want to learn. I compile a list of topics that are personally relevant to them. I usually teach psychology, so students have many personal interests in different topics. I then gather resources, examples and stories to share with students related to those topics. These examples serve as building blocks which connect the student interest to the class and hopefully make the class more meaningful.
Melissa
I have introduced "game show " quizzes with groups.
This makes learning fun and motivates them to work for sometimes holiday themed novelty gifts to
simple class recognition and group bonding.
This has inspired good competitive spirit without ritualistic quizzes and one stellar performer - but a group win.
I was skeptical at first - but a simple power point set up as
"Jeopardy" for terms|concepts in design classes works well.
Hi Robert,
This is a great way to lay out a professional development plan. By following your plan there are constant points of improvement all along the way to benefit you and the students.
Gary
Dr. Meers,
As a professional in the field, I first have to check my motivatioal skills of clear, current, and up to date material in my field, as well as being empathetic to student needs and constantly being enthusiastic about my dailly teaching content. Once the above has been established, I have found that group participation on a project or recipe completion and presentation has been quite effective. Immediate grades and critique feedback by myself, has also helped them grasp the concept of presenting their finished projects to me in different ways, and has increased their motivation in taking one idea and transferring it to a future projects.
Sharing our own experiences and how we have applied the material during our professional career. Also, relating the material to the interests and careers of our students in the class.
Hi Dan,
Like the way you bring two methods of motivation into your classroom. The first being their own as a result of their enrolling in the program and the external that comes from your being a role model for them of someone that has had success in the career.
Gary
Hi Joseph,
Good strategy. Concrete examples of money that can be earned, opportunities for growth and recognition of career levels are all ways of motivating students to keep working hard in their programs.
Gary
Hi Steven,
Well said. Often the sharing of your experiences will help students to see their own future potential. They can see standing in front of them someone that has gone through the training and is now ready to share the life experiences it has taken to be successful. This is a very powerful role model for them.
Gary
Not all students are motivated by the same things (how easy would that be if they were?). It seems the older/mature students "buy-in" to the program quicker and are more motivated if they see your passion and compassion, excitement and empathy in what you teach and tell them! In a different way, the younger students want to be shown how what they're learning will directly benefit them.
It is always important for me to remind the students that they have chosed to come to school to learn and they should be self motivated just by respect for themselves and the money they are spending for their education. For the rest I personally make sure my expertise as a successful professional keep them motivated by illustrating as much as possible their education by real life industry examples.
