I've been teaching going on four years bringing in 23 years of experence from the field. I use success stories from my past history that ties in to the subject of that days lesson. I also reassure them by reminding them that once upon a time I was in their shoes, and that one day they too can enjoy the same success that I've had. I keep the class room alive and full of enegry by starting and ending the day with joke or funny story. I keep the subject material very clear with a lot of visual aids or demo's as I go thew the presentations. And actually have the students try their hand out on a demo after I've showed them talking about it as I do it.
Hi Douglas,
Well said. We have to try many different approaches in order to find the right combination of factors for that day for that class to help with the motivation factor. It is a challenge but one that is well worth it when the students get focused on the course content.
Gary
Motivation? When I look out into my class I see approximately 30 people who are generally young and motivation changes by a mulitude of reasons. It could be weather related, it could be food related. It could be money related. It could be love related. What I try to do is gather all those various "motivations" into one place (the class room or lab) and attempt to steer them towards a mutual educational experience where they have learned something they enrolled in school to learn and I have been able to go home at night and feel like I helped them improve themselves. I may do this by using humor, by physically laying down on the floor and showing how something would have to be done on a real job, by guiding them through their text books so they know where to find more information. It changes everyday and every class.
Hi Bennett,
Good suggestions all for other participants in this course to use. The point I would like to really commend you for is your use of your students as resources. Sometimes instructors miss the value that students bring to the class. They have many life experiences and skills that we should use when we can.
Gary
Well besides candy, I let someone pick the music to be played during the break, also I let some of the "eager beavers" go ahead and plan a presentation to the class and for those who like to draw, I give them a chance to draw on the reader board and illistrate with a picture the content we are discussing. Some of the students are wonderful artistis, some are in the music business, some really have a command of digital design for powerpoints and such.
I find by asking some of the students what might make so and so tick helps as they have been together for several weeks and they are usually new to me.
Finally I ask the previous instructor what worked with a specific student.
Hi Fred,
The bringing of the real world into the classroom is important. You are doing that through the sharing of your experiences along with those of your students. Good way to show relevancy and application.
Gary
Talking adout real life expierences of mine or the students, that pertain to the tasks we are working on, helps get the students more excited and focused about the learning process.
Fred Gulliksen
Hi Doreen,
You are right about there not being one specific motivation technique to use. The key is to identify the needs of students and then offer reinforcement and motivation techniques that will be of help to them. To be a good instructor you need to always be on the lookout for ways to engage the students in the learning process.
Gary
Hi Abundio,
Thank you for those kind words about the content of the course. You are correct about being the bridge to the future for these students. It is a wonderful thing when you can see them cross the bridge and be successful. Keep up the good work.
Gary
After reading the materials in this section, I concluded that there is no one motivation technique to use but rather applying the technique that is appropriate to the situation. If a family member is sick, we should be empathetic. When giving a lecture, we should be enthusiastic and confident about our teaching materials. If students seem or act confused about the materials we just taught, we should apply positive reinforcement to showing them the correct method.
Thank you Dr. Gary Meers, this will help me understand the student the student.
This course will help me to deal with the student and analyzed the effective retention of presentated information is base upon application of the new skills.
A very key ingredient is here for me to be the bridges as walk way to ther succes.
Effective motivation techniques Instructors offer to thers students the desire to learn. Be flexible, demonstrate clarity of instruction or used a the power of language and organization.
Give them examples from life experienced, this will help them to be motivated to build on their success.
Hi Sara,
Sounds like you are doing all of the right things to try and get all of your students to try for excellence. Unfortunately not all students have that goal as you mentioned. When I have students like that I work individually with them to try and get them motivated to excel. In addition, I show them the difference in employment opportunities there are for high achieving students verses the average students. Through guest speakers and field trips I try and show them how they need to "separate themselves from the herd" to enhance their career future. Sometimes this works and sometimes they can't be moved no matter what. I then focus my attention on those that want to excel.
Gary
I use a lot of personal stories from my experiences to help my students see the bigger picture and hopefully give them some little "nuggets" of information that they can't always learn in a book.
I have also found that guest speakers lend a nice dynamic to the classroom and sometimes the students will really click with a particular speaker who works in a particular field.
My biggest "motivation" issue is the fact that with some classes, getting by with a passing grade is good enough. They don't have a strong desire to apply themselves enough to get the top grades. Any suggestions?
Since my classes are focused on class discussions, I encourage students to use life experiences and I also offer some life experiences. Additionally, I prepare the examples that I use (in lectures) to focus around the careers that they have chosen so the material becomes real to them.
Hi Patrick,
This is a great way to create rapport with your students. The can see you are interested in their lives beyond the classroom and understand the challenges they are facing with full time work and going to school.
Gary
Hi Abundio,
Instructors need to work at creating opportunities for students to show success and motivate themselves to keep trying for higher level skill development. We need to encourage and demonstrate ways that students can develop their expertise and this will lead them to their career goals.
Gary
Most of my students have also a job, and talking aqbout their respective tasks and responsabilities create some bonds and motivation in the group.
The effective motivation techniques of the instructor offer to hteir student the desire to learn.
By understanding the student way learning we could be flexible and understands the student educational process, how we approcah them to be more motivated to learn.
Demonstrating clarity of instruction, instuctors are using the power of language and organization, by doing this we can motivate student to build on them the secret of success.
Hi Bridget,
I like the it as well. By transferring what they have learned to a real life situation they remember it better but also value it because they can see the application of their learning. This is a part of ROI(Return On Investment) of their education.
Gary
