Tips for motivating students
1. Remain positive!
2. Provide opportunity for success!
3. Be excited!
4. Teach teamwork.
5. Praise students in public.
6. Teach problem solving skills.
7. provide opportunities for students with various life experiences.
Excellent point! I have always tried to show enthusiasm in the classes I teach. I think showing enthusiasm is really important to help the students stay motivated as well.
Hi Gary, Some of the strategies I have used are ice breakers, games that involve things we are learning in class, Socatric method(ask them instead of tell them answers), praise students, exercise drills that involve things that they just learned and doing interactive demonstrations. This keeps me going because I feed off of their excitement and can monitor the class's learning pace.
Hi Susan,
What are some strategies you have used to keep you and your students excited and motivated throughout the course?
Gary
I also agree. Students feel it when we are not enthusiastic about what we do. The class losses it's energy and motivations. I believe that we have to keep motivating ourselves and trying new aproaches.
Hi Aminta,
Good rule of thumb. By following this wisdom you will remain in control of the class and enjoy being a teacher.
Gary
I agree a 100%!
Students can easily sense if the instructor is loosing interest in the class, specially when we have some challenging students. My rule of thumb is "don't let them get to you", continue
working hard in inspiring everyone and try to get those students back on track. Make every effort to leave problems at home and come refreshed everyday.
Hi Dianne,
Students like to hear personal stories about how their instructors were successful in their career areas. By them knowing your culinary background they see you as a model of what they can be with a lot of hard work and effort.
Gary
I share my story as to how I came to the culinary field later in life and how my passion motivated me
Hi Guy,
It is the end result that often forgotten by students. If it were easy everyone would be doing it. Educational acquirement is hard work but the pay off is worth it. We just have to remind our students of this over and over again.
Gary
Good list! I have found with a lot of my students after being in school for several months or more they forget WHY they are here. I point out the "gold ring" they are trying to attain by bettering themselves through education. I have asked what their friends at home are doing (nothing)and ask what their friends will be doing in a year while they (students) are making money(again nothing). It seems to rekindle the fire they came to school with!
Hi Steven,
I can't imagine teaching something I wasn't excited about. Talk about long class sessions. You are right the students pick up on it right away. I teach required courses and the students come into the class with less than positive attitudes. I teach these courses because it is fun to see if I can turn their attitudes around and show them the value of the required courses. This allows me to be creative and excited about what I am teaching which transfers to the students.
Gary
I agree. It is very difficult to teach material that you do not share an enthusiasm for. Lack of real passion comes through to the students
Excellent list. I could not agree more.
Students can only be motivated if we as instructors are motivated. Methods may vary but enthusiasm and REAL passion for the subject must come through!
I could not agree more!
Great points!
H
Hi Jason,
I agree with you about being approachable both inside and outside of the classroom/lab. Students seeing you in the hall should know that you will greet them and exchange a bit of conversation. This really helps them to see you in both a professional and personal setting. This is part of the modeling that goes with being an instructor.
Gary
I belive that the way we interact around campus with our peers and other students can also be a motivating factor. If a student chooses to go down the same carrer path they will admire you as a person as well as a instructor. This can movitave them in a professional and interpersonal way.
I remind my students of the educational rewards they will reap for staying motivated
Hi Glenn,
Good list. If we as instructors can cover the list then we will not only have given our students content but we will have developed them professionally as well. It is critical that students leaving our programs have an understanding of ethics and character.
Gary
