pizza and rewards
What are some examples of effective motivation techniques that career college instructors can use in their classes?
Before the midterm I have a review on the material covered on the exam. I use a game show style of review and issues point to each person that gets the right answer. The team with the most point at the end of the class gets the honor of pick out the pizza toping for the next class that I buy for the class. This provides recognition and reward for the entire class and makes the process fun for review for the midterm.
Hi Bryan,
You raise a number of very good points about how to respond to each student's need and background. My experience has been not to worry about some of the issues you raised to a major extent. My students which are very culturally diverse all respond to competition and food. They don't feel left out if they feel included in the total class when they don't win at a competition. They just reset and get ready to try and win the next time.
Gary
Since I teach Cultural Diversity, I'm prone to over-thinking rewards that could be used for motivation. For instance, a student who comes from a country where pizza is not often consumed would not be nearly as likely to see a pizza party as a reward (although if it's a new experience, that could have its own educational value). Similarly, I worry about making rewards too childish, especially for my older students. For them, it seems a lesson well-learned is almost its own reward.
I recently began trying a heavily group-oriented approach to my class, and I'm looking for some sort of reward to motivate each group to work hard in a friendly competition. There are many small activites throughout the 3-week class, and teams earn points as they progress towards the finish line. I don't want a reward so valuable that the "losing" group would feel angry to miss it, and I don't want the competition to turn cutthroat, but I do want something that would motivate groups to come together and work hard. Can anyone offer suggestions? What would motivate students more: a bonus to grades, or something more human/social? Should every group "win" to some degree, but some getting "more" than the others?
Since our classroom is a restaurant, we sometimes take field trips to other restaurants and breweries. They are happy to give us tours and tastings, and it is fun for the class and helps keep things exciting for the students as well as the instructors.
Hi Daniel,
I am sure they do. It has to be like going to a candy store with all the computer parts to look at and mess with. Great motivator.
Gary
Besides pizza I use fieldtrips to motivate my students. I teach computer repair and students love to go with me to computer part shopping.
i do this as well.. its serves as great participation for students and they love free food!
Hi Joseph,
Good point. You have a ready made motivator when you use food as the medium. This can keep the students looking ahead to what is coming next.
Gary
as a culinary instructor, the motivator of food is ever present, this is a fantastic way to encourage research for the next demonstration by the chef instructor including historical facts and modern applications.
I use many incentives in class to keep the learning "fun". It's sometimes the only thing that can keep the students focused on the subject at hand, or sometimes the only way to keep the subject interesting.
Hi David,
The pizza game is a good start. Students as you well know really like games and competitions. These are short term motivators that keep the students engaged.
Other motivators are field trips and guest speakers. Former graduates are generally very well received because the current students can see themselves in these graduates. Successful people from their field help them to see their future and these are strong motivators.
Gary
