I always try to provide positive verbal enforcement whether it be towards a student for asking a question in class or a whole class if they work really well during group or whole class activities. Even with older students it still motivates, just like we are motivated if a student tells us we did a particularly good job of helping them learn a concept or if our dean says we are doing a good job.
I could not agree more that a quick turnaround on grading assessments is key to them being an educational tool. If you don't provide quick meaningful feedback your assessment loses its efficacy as a learning device.
Eric,
Making connections between the course content and their future is a good way to increase the value of your course in the minds of your students. The more value they see in the course content the more engagement they will have and the result will be student focus and increased learning.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Students like to know that they are doing a good job. I like to stop and ask questions about material that we just covered, and give praise when the students answer correctly. After I finish the round of questions I relate this to the career path they are on, and point out how they are well on there way to that career based on how well they are currently doing in class. That showing frequent and heartfelt encouragement seems to motivate students. It also serves the purpose to show them that they can achieve the goals they are working towards.
Reinforcement motivates students because it gives them the confidence to proceed.
Linda,
I use both of these activities in my classes for the reason you state. They help students to start to see the real world they are preparing to enter and they expand their critical thinking problem solving skills.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I like to have my students do role play or use scenarios to reinforce a difficult or important section of a lesson. Engaging them to have think sessions increases Critical Thinking Skills as well.
As I have mentioned in other forums, students learn by practicing what you are preaching. I have always believed that I am training my replacement. Give them the tools, and let them try it. If they fail, and no one is hurt, it is a teaching moment. I was fortunate to have mentors and bosses who let me make mistakes, on the way to discovery learning. Doing things correctly the first and every time doesn't just happen. They need to practice what they are seeing and hearing, and they will learn what right looks like...that 'Ah Ha' moment.
Lee,
Checking for understanding is critical because it is upon this foundation from which future learning opportunities will develop.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Randy,
How do you help your students to see the pattern and then build on how that pattern helps them in the learning process?
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I like to ask the class what have been learn today
Students see a pattern, and a pattern will help students understand
Paula,
A few words can go a long way in encouraging and supporting a student that might be on the edge of dropping out or giving up.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Giving kudos when you know a student has put in the work.
Repetition does help commit learning to memory. The more I would look at my notes from a lecture I attended, the more those moments were recalled and relived.
Always stress going over notes right after class, and again at the close of homework at the end of the day.
Award a bonus for those who said they did that, and ask those students who said they did, what they remember they learned yesterday!
Rita
Reinforcement through feedback can allow the student to immediately learn what he did correctly or incorrectly. The instructor can assist the student in correcting his mistakes. When students have a positive learning experience they want to continue learning and become motivated to try other skills. It is important to focus on what was done correctly, no matter how small, and how to improve what might not have been done correctly. Negative reinforcement alone can make the student feel bad about him self and his abilities, making him less likely to want to try anything new.
ALLAN,
Thank you for these comments because the reinforce the value that can result from the effort of students. Sometimes they don't realize that studying can actually yield results such as knowledge acquisition and skill development.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I really like this idea. It reminds me of when I was a student studying for an exam. I would study extremely hard but always had the fear of failing. After taking the test and breezing through it, I only then realized the fruits of all that studying. In other words, before I was forced to document what I had learned on a test, I did not have an accurate appreciation for all that I had learned...I think this method provides the students with an accurate assessment of their progress and thus motivates them.
Greg,
With students like this I assign everyone questions to respond to. I list the questions on the screen and then call on the assigned student to respond. By giving them the questions before hand each student can organize his or her thoughts and come up with an answer. Takes a lot of pressure off of the shy students but still gets them to contributing to the class discussions.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
just curious to what you may do when there may be one or two students that have no input?
I try to reinforce good study habits by having students earn bonus points or free homework passes through games or projects.
