Hi Dave,
Good to hear about your use of case studies. I really like using them in my classes. I find they really help my students to make application to the situations. What has been your experience in using case studies?
Gary
Using case studies to take the student through an actual problem and walk them through the diagnosis and correction.
Hi Christopher,
What a great forum response on several fronts. First your last sentence is a great. If you love your field and are excited about sharing the knowledge and skills you have your students will be excited as well. It does rub off as you well know.
Your comments about mixing the different age and experience ranges of your students is good to hear. Many instructors are puzzled with how to teach different generational learners. You have found the key is to mix and match them in groups so they and you can benefit from each other. This is using a ready made resource, meaning the students, no matter what background they bring to class. You are going to be a great teacher as a result of your excitement, and willingness to learn from your students. Keep up the good work your students will appreciate and benefit from it.
Gary
Hi Cynthia,
Real life stories show application of knowledge and skills. The students need to hear these stories so they will remain motivated and willing to study harder so their future will become real. As their instructor you are giving them a role model to aspire to in their own careers.
Gary
Hi Scott,
You are right about students liking to hear stories about how the knowledge and skills will help them to be successful. You knowledge and skills have helped you to be successful so hearing about your experiences gives them hope and excitement about their own future. Good job.
Gary
I'm real new at this instructing thing I have noticed that high energy and the attitude that you really care about the student and the field ur teaching makes a big difference in the responce from the student. I have also noticed age doesn't really matter I teach at technical school and have been stumped from some of the older ones which just makes my job more fun. It not only makes the older students more involved the younger ones get really involved too.(if you can take the ribbing)Keep it open keep it fun especially when the age group will be from 18-42 yrs old...I have also found that when you utilize the older more exprerienced students and have them help with the younger students not only keeps the elders well motivated the younger ones also see they have another source of valuable information which creates team work between the younger and older classmates, the older ones feel their contributions are important and the younger ones are soaking up all the info they can get their minds on. I have seen this very successful in my classes and I really enjoy when I'm learning from them, almost seems almost like a win win ....ps..(Been an auto tech for 30yrs and was offered a job as an instructor, it made me fall in love with career all over again.)
I think real life stories relating to the course content are very effective. It seems to help the learning process to be able to see what the desired outcome will be.
I tell stories that pertain to what we are talking about at that moment. Like racing stories or about particular motor jobs or problem customers that i had to deal with "professionally". they appreciate the real world stuff not just reading curricullum out of the workbook.
Taking a survey in the class to see what motivates each student for doing their best in the class. This way the instructor can stimulate different techniques through positive learning.
Hi Joseph,
The ability to problem solve real life situations is the real key to career college preparation. The students get to see how relevant the education they are receiving really can be to their lives. The opportunity to use newly acquired knowledge is exciting for the students.
How do you set up the real life situations in your course?
Gary
give the student real situations that they dont think they will be able to achieve and lead them to success
The instructor has to be empathetic to the student's needs, be a good listener, uphold a respectful open communication,explain and discuss the rules for a mutual understanding of school rules and the instructor's class rules,enhancing the lessons for a better understanding and easy hands on using work experiences and applications of activities to maintain the student's interest, and finally,immediate assignments and exams feedback is very important to the student.
Hi Marina,
I really like your approach. You are placing yourself in a position of showing the students that you not only can talk about the subject but you can do it as well. The competition component is a great one as well. Almost everyone likes to see if they can "beat" the master. This gives them a goal to strive for.
Gary
Hi Maria,
Well said. By showing yourself as an experienced human being that cares about the success of students you will be setting yourself up in a position where you can earn the respect of your students and develop rapport with them in the process.
Gary
Periodically I perform the first project of the day myself so that the students realize that those who teach "can" do. Students always react to this positively and motivate each other to surpass me.
I think it is very powerful when an instructor shares his/her personal experience. Students see their instructors as the knowledgeable ones. They look up to them. If an instructor has to share their "human" side in order to motivate his/her student, they should.
Motivating students to learn is vital to educational success in the class room. One way to motivate students is to show how theory can be applied and the kind of success it can produced when properly applied.
This can be done by sharing personal success stories or bring in practitioner speakers from industry to speak of their successes and usage of academic knowledge in their profession.
telling stories that have happen to you as an example of what the results of doing or not doing something can have.
Hi Ira,
Right you are about past students being used as success stories for current students. This way they get a very clear message that their efforts today can result in the same pay off as the former students are talking about due to hard work and personal effort.
Gary
Effective motivation techniques that instructors can use in their classroom can be anything from reminding your studens of the value an education to guest speakers. Reminding students about the worth an education brings not only for personal reasons, but for finacial reasons as well. Another technique that is extremely motivating is to mention to your students about true testimonials from previous students who are successful in their respected disciplines. These true testimonials can even include guest speakers. I strongly believe that true testimonials and real people are extremely effective motivating techniques that college instructors can utilize with amazing results.
