A top priority of mine is to always provide prompt feedback to my students on their work and comments. This demonstrates to my students that I am engaged and interested in their learning and success and I wish this contributes to their motivation throughout the course. We are all humans and do like to get positive feedback when its earned. Success is built in many small steps and giving positive and constructive feedback in each step when deserved builds student confidence and self-esteem and thereby motivation.
I actively use the comment field on the online student portal to provide support, helpful tips and encouraging comments, thereby trying to empower my students and stay in touch with them between my (math) classes.
As an instructor it is important to practice motivating our students on a daily basis. From the time they enter the room until they leave. We are motivators, in order for our students to get excited for learning we need to make it interesting and inviting for the,. Providing reinforcements to motivate our students will keep them interested and enthusiastic for learning.
Experience is often the best teacher is an old and very true expression! I often use experiences - both successful and unsuccessful - as learning opportunities for my classroom. I often make a case study of a past experience and devise group discussion around it. Some of the most effective learning comes from past experiences where wrong decisions were made (Ex: What would you have done if this had happened to you?). I think that instructors often feel like they have to be experts in every area of a subject, when often the most effective learning results from an opportunity from students to learn from a prior mistake.
Barbara Stevens
Positive reinforcement can allow students to reexamine their thoughts because of their confidence. Then they can explore other students’ points of view. This will allow a deeper meaning of the material.
Computers can be intimidating to students at times. I make an effort to compliment students on their computer skills, espcially if they are nervous at first. This gives them confidence to complete technology assignments.
I find through reinforcement on experance that you have in the business. That some of the students in your class bring to the table in class of what they have in experance to share. It helps every student that my not have the experance understand what the business is all about. It reinforces what the Instructor is teaching so when you get out in the business you have a good understanding what to expect. There is no suprises and you were not told.
Many of my students are afraid of computers, and have trouble gauging whether they are doing their work correctly.
I grade one assignment each day for the class, and I visit each student when I do it, so I can tell them individually what they have correct and what should be changed.
Their grades are immediately available online, so they can log in and get them anytime.
This helps them to know whether they are on the right track with their work, and it also reinforces the correct things they are doing in class.
By reinforcing positive behaviors or achievements the class' esprit de corps is uplifted and having a positive mindset helps to keep the class focused and positive about their learning experience.
Students I find over the years will do what is expected of them... good and bad. Reinforcement is one way for students not only to do what is expected but to have a sense of reward or reason for why they act the way they do. Understanding the dynamics of action and consequence is a great way for students to mature and be totally involved in the education process. Instructors who use reinforcement strategies to foster positive behavior I believe get more out of their students than instructors who don't apply such strategies.
I agree it is important to be motivational. This will make your students excited about learning and help them succeed.
Reinforcement is the key to success. Each student learns differently. I think it is important for the reinforcement.
I compliment my students on the quality of their work. This gives them the confidence to strive harder when completing assignments whether it be inside or outside the classroom.
I am a huge proponent in grading assignments and tests in a timely manner. It is frustrating when a student works so hard on an assignment and is anxiously awaiting his/her grades only to be disappointed that the instructor did not have time to look at the assignment.
Reinforcement being used to motivate is used I teaching and in various aspects of life. You can use positive reinforcement to encourage correct behavior. Students are constantly looking for a barometer for how they are doing in a course. Immediate feedback lets the student know how they are doing and where they need improvement.
I find that using constructive feedback is one of the most successful ways that I can help motivate students. In order for feedback to work it must contain two major elements. First, reinforce each student with a positive statement at the beginning of your comments. Highlight the positive aspects of their submission, even if it is only one element of the assignment.
Second, do not be afraid to provide negative comments when needed. The only way students will learn is to 'stretch and reach for greater achievements. However, just identifing the errors or weak points is not enough - you must provide examples to correct errors, suggestions on how to improve, as well as the location and instructions for 'tools' that will help the student improve.
Encourage students to keep working on the positive elements of their submissions, provide support, and opportunities for dialog with you, the instructor. Remember, that even though these students are in college, many (especially the older non-traditional or at risk) students will be fearful of their own capabilities. Their motivation and focus will be deminished or increased depending on how they are rewarded for good work and encouraged when they need to improve.
Hi Katie,
Thanks for sharing this example with us. This just shows what a little competition, group activity and a prize can do for class morale.
Gary
In lab, we have 3 groups of 8-9 students each. Most labs require individual work, but each "team" works together. Last Mon, the most accurate (rather than quickest) team 'won' glassware washup done by least accurate team. On Wed, we ran a different lab, same prize. The 'washers' from Mon worked really well together to win 'most accurate'. They did not want to wash up again! Never done this before - worked wonderfully. Prize didn't cost $, really showed students the importance of teamwork, & all our test tubes are sparkling clean!
By acknowledging the value that is added by the student's contribution to the class, it reinforces the importance they play in the learning process. This lets them realize that they too are very knowledgeable due to their experiences and background.
Reinforcement is an important motivator. Without it many students would not "study" for tests. Not only do I use the grading system as a reinforcer, I also use words of encouragement - "What a smart class" This is a brillant group of students! Genius. Super answer. ANd as silly as it sounds, I put stickers and great words of praise on tests!. WOW, SUPER.
Reinforcement can be used to motivate students through small, incremental, learned skills demonstrations that lead to resolution of higher order problems. As when seemingly difficult puzzles finally come together, learning speeds up towards the end. Aha moments follow, resplendent with student motivation and confidence in their capacity to apply what they have learned.
