Hi Florence,
This is a great way to get student involved and seeing the relevance of what they are learning. They get to see and hear and then do. This is a real motivator for them.
Gary
I've always tried to develop and maintain positive relationships with every student. Being a writing teacher allows me to have students journal on topics that can be discussed at a later date. I also keep notes, so I can question or discuss topics with individual students on a personal level. When students know an instructor takes a personal interest in them, they tend to work harder and be more comfortable in class.
I have students complete projects for REAL clients. Clear communication between myself, the students, and the clients is needed to balance expectations
I also believe the "hands on" approach is a motivator for adult learners. but another great technique to motivate is by example. Either giving examples of successful or unseccessful scenarios, or making an positive example of other students and then aknowledging each for their contributions.
I use the hands on approach. I give a short lecture and then we do practice exercises and assignments.
Hi Kate,
Sounds like a very good solution of providing support to and for all students. Each one gets to share their knowledge but in a timely manner that is based upon their growth in the class.
Gary
Generally I ask stronger students to give their presentations earlier in the quarter so they can set the bar high. What results is 1) the stronger students feel very empowered/motivated because of the resulting positive feedback they generally get from their peers and then they continue to up the bar for themselves 2) the students that tend to struggle are motivated to push themselves more than they would have and make it a much more meaningful activity.
Hi Annette,
What a great way to make your course content "real" for your students. You are helping them to connect the dots of their career development. One dot or bit of content builds on the next dot and another dot until the entire picture is complete. Keeping that vision in their minds is critical if they are going to be successful in their efforts.
Gary
And, you know, Jim, you are really good at doing that! You are very good at bringing current situations into the assignments and making it all applicable.
As discussed in the module, it is really important that the students understand how the task they are currently learning fits into the scheme of their anticipated career. If the instructor can be excited about teaching that task in addition to showing the task's importance in the career field, the students will be much more motivated to pay attention. When I teach alphabetic filing, I approach it with an "I'm excited about this" attitude. Putting things in alphabetic order is a very concrete task, and there are many reasons it is important. I try to point out as many reasons as possible because otherwise filing seems like an unimportant and mundane task. It is were unimportant, we certainly wouldn't waste time on it in the workplace.
Hi Gina,
Good example of how an instructor can be both an instructor and mentor. By showing the students that you are there for them and will support them in their efforts you are letting them know they can depend on you to help them move through the course sequence and become the chefs they want to be if they will put forth the effort.
Gary
Hi Linda,
By letting your students share their life experiences you are helping them to "invest" in the class by sharing a bit of their lives with others. It also allows them to build some confidence as they start to see that they have life experiences that will enable them to be successful in the course.
Gary
i have found that applying the topic to the current fad or popular topic, helps keep the students on there toes it lets them know you are not just teaching from a book but showing them that even the basics and the "old way" of doing things can be used in a modern world
It is important to remind them of what they are learning is so crucial to the real world. I also tell my students all the time, "It's not how you do the job, but it's how you interact with others."
As a culinary chef instructor in a student run restaurant that's open to the public, I remind students that this is their time to put into practice all of the theories they have been accumulating.
I remind them they've made it this far, and now they need to show their stuff. If they are not confident or are nervous about making mistakes, I remind them that they paid lots of money to be here, and this is above all else a teaching facility, and that those customers are here aiding our class.
I find that as soon as the pressure to perform things perfectly disappears and they realize I am supporting them, they make much fewer mistakes and are more willing to communicate about challenges should things begin to go awry, often times averting total disaster. I believe they trust me not to freak out, but to assist should the time come.
Sharing real-life experiences in the student's career field has certainly been effective. Through these real-life experiences, students tend to relate to the stories, be able to apply them to our studies, visualize themselves working in their chosen career fields, and definitely get more excited about their programs.
By incorporating "real wold applications" into the course content. Career college students want to be able to apply the knowledge, not just understand the theory. If you provide them these opportunities, then it allows for greater understanding of why and how it is used in practice. The desire to learn more will follow as they see the true benefits this knowledge provides for them and thier careers.
It must be relevant to their lives. They have incredible experience and often are able to give examples of relevancy. I use examples from my life experience and encourage students to do the same.
I use direct examples of how this information will be applied in the career field.
I have found sharing stories of how this will used in real-world situations helps a great deal. Also relating stories of how I did not have the benefit of this class and had to solve it on my own work well too.
