For those of us teaching the General Education courses such as composition, this can be a tougher sell. Our courses are required, but usually not looked at with great enthusiasm. However, since many students may have had a lifelong resistance to writing, they may respond well to some encouragement as they discover that it is not a difficult as they imagined. With some time, attention, and practice, the students can learn to write better and will then have a strong skill which will serve them well in their careers. The confidence that comes from mastering something that was always assumed to be impossible is a boost to other learning.
Hi Gary,
It is often the simple gestures such as a hand shake that encourages that student to come back the next day and the day after that. Small steps to a big goal is what gets each of us to where we want to be.
Gary
A simple hand shake after a hard lab task help the sudent stay motivated
Their reason for being enrolled in school, their life situation, their interest in the class and the presentation of the class by the instructor.
Hi Hilary,
This is a very good point. We instructors need to make sure that we are giving our students assignments that enable them to grow and gain new knowledge about their field. Busy work has no place in the career college classroom.
Gary
Students are no different than normal people. We are all motivated by different things be it time, money, emotional gratification, etc. The trick is to find out what little incentives will keep the individual student going. I've found that students are motivated when they feel like their time is being respected. Busy work and work for the sake of work isn't tolerated. Each assignment needs to be meaningful and relevant.
Provide assignments and projects that are challenging yet doable. This may be difficult when dealing with a group of students who have a range of abilities. Giving choices to projects--some more challenging than others--is a way to motivate better students and allow less skilled students to still participate.
Some of the factors that contribute to student motivation are their age, why they are taking the course, their personal support systems or lack thereof, and their actual needs.
The younger students have less life experiences and maturity to make educational decisions. The non-traditional student may be enduring a job relocation due to downsizing, etc and feel forced to attend. They may want to develop a new skill or perfect a skill they already have to be more employable. It is difficult to be motivated if you can't get to school without transportation.
An important key is to give true motivation and encouragement. Otherwise, words are cheap. The students pick up on that real quickly.
Students seem to be motivated by grades, "pleasing the instructor," desire to achieve a certain career goal, and enjoying the social aspects of class.
Factors that may contribute to student motivation are first and foremost their reason for taking the class. Are they being forced to do so by parents, employers, etc. These students would likely come in less motivated, as opposed to someone who is taking the class because it is a step toward their completing their goal (degree, job, grad school, etc.) or who may be taking the class because they are truly interested in the topic. Instructor motivation can definitely help motivate a student to want to perform in the class, and get as much out of it as they can.
I think factors that contribute to student modivation include:
1. The instructor knowing their students name---I work hard on doing that, so they feel more welcome and maybe feel like "hey, he cares".
2. Always giving feedback; in a constructive positive manner
3. Taking a short amount of time to see if current students have any real world experience they could share with the class
I find that varying the class material from group activities, to lecture, etc. helps keep them engaged. My eagerness and excitement about the material usually weighs in as a great motivator. I agree with cutting out busy work, and making every assignment worth their time and interest as another key motivator.
Being very pleasant and giving positive comments to students is very effective for me. Students also need to know that you flexible and willing to work with them if they have sick children. I make it known that I will help them to the best of my ability with learning disabilities.
Hi Richard,
Good point about motivation. Emotional motivation (like support of family) drives students at a much higher level than does money. When emotional motivation is involved students work much harder to achieve success since they want to please and/or support their family.
Gary
I have found that if a person says, "Money" that they are hinding the real motivation. Most often motivation is success oriented, family oriented, or the simple need for job skills for onc's own support.
If money is mentioned, I ask the student why they chose this particular field that really does not rate high on the salary level. Then I ask if they were to get minimum wage, would they still be interested?
I then get more of an answer like, "Well, I need to take care of my family." This then becomes their motivation and not really the money.
Julie, your last comment is sage advice for anyone trying to achieve a goal.
Students like to hear positive reinforcement. They like to know if they are doing well in the course. It may be small or large.
Hi Julie,
Good point about how to achieve one's career goals. Keep plodding forward and make progress each day. When a student loses sight of his/her ultimate goal then they are more adapt leave school or become discouraged.
Gary
Hi Everyone,
There are quite a few factors that contribute to student motivation that it's hard to list them all in just one posting. To name a few, here are some of the factors that affect student motivation: time management, financial management, personal interest in the material being studied, desire to achieve a better quality of life for themselves and their families, recognition, being a lifelong learner, professional responsibilities, relationships, etc.
Like the ED102 training communicated, at any given time students can be influenced by many different factors so often times it's a balancing act that many students engage in to keep their motivational levels up. Based on my experience as an educator, I would say that those who are successful in their educational endeavors are ones who never lose sight of their long-term goals, but understand it's by putting one foot in front of the other and building upon the daily routine and activities that will get them to where they desire to be.
Thanks!
Julie
I think practicing the factors discussed here--empathy, clarity, and empathy--go a long way towards motivating students, which in turn helps refresh the instructor!
