I try to provide feedback on assignments, tests and quizzes as soon as possible. Students seem more interested in a quiz if they can know how well they did right away. It also provides an opportunity to immediately review material students commonly missed.
Honest feedback is always important but most of us respond best to positive reinforcement. Pointing out the good in what a student does will assist them in furthering that good work
when you give students reniforcement it helps them realize what they are doing
Hi Ryan,
These "ah-ha" moments are what keeps us coming back to the classroom time after time. We are making a difference in the lives of our students and impacting their futures. We need to remember that when we work with our students each day.
Gary
Small steps eventually build large successes. With each reinforcement that is positive, it gives the student almost instant recognition for the efforts they may have taken to arrive at the correct answer or procedure. Learning through building is an excellent method to inspire confidense, which is in itself motivational.
Nothing is more rewarding as a student, or as an instructor, than when that light bulb goes off and everything falls into place. Positive reinforcement maintains a level of consistent motivation...without it, the light bulb may never have the opportunity to go off.......
I have found that especially my non-traditional students strive on reinforcement because they have been out of education for so long. They require constant reassurance that they are doing a good job to keep their confidence up.
Hi Jeb,
Those words of encouragement are so important when the pressures of life start to crowd into the success of students. They wear down and then perk back up when an instructor supports their efforts and helps them to see that they can be successful in the course.
Gary
It's like urging an athlete in a game; "you are doing well, keep your eye on the ball, chin up, behave like a winner." In class, letting students know they are on the right track, their efforts are heading the right way, and towards positive results gives them an intermediate feeling of accomplishment on the way to their goal(s).
Reinforced behavior will be repeated, and behavior that is not reinforced is less likely to be repeated. So the skill of the instructor to use different reinforcement techniques taylored to different types of learners is an important skill to master.
By reinforcing students, encouraging them to continue to try for success, showing them progress and giving immediate feedback from tests, quizzes, etc., will hopefully be enough to motivate students to continue in the program.
Reinforcement is very important in encouraging students toward success and improved performance. If I can find what works best for each student then there is a better chance that the entire class will be motivated and that makes for an exciting time in the classroom. I use bonus points and immediate feedback. I like to highlight positive behaviors and participation as well. I do whatever I can to keep my students engaged in the learning process.
Hi Margaret,
Well said. This is the kind of support many students need to keep their focus and drive to complete their training.
Gary
I think I prefer the terms "affirm" and "reaffirm" as motivators for students as it sounds more positive, and that is the spirit that we want as instructors.
Providing positive feedback, praise for successful endeavors, and rewarding effort with words of encouragement are all forms of reinforcement and affirmation that keep our students motivated and excited about learning.
Hi David,
You make a very good point about reinforcement. It must be done in such a way that it is informative and supportive to the students. Your example is how many instructors deliver feedback. We do need to help student to correct mistakes but also help them to refine their skills and expand their knowledge about how to be successful in our classes as well as later on in their careers.
Gary
Reinforcement can be used to motivate employees, soldiers, criminals and students. Reinforcement can be a powerful tool when used correctly.
Without the reinforcement, students are not sure whether they are doing a good job or not. I remember back in secondary school after a football game we would gather in the locker room and review films of the previous game. In those films, the coaches would go over mistakes made; and over, and over, and over. Drilling into our heads the mistakes. Rarely getting praise for the all of the efforts that were correctly executed. I noticed a trend that the same people kept making the same mistakes. Again, we would go over and over the mistakes and be yelled out for them. I believe now that the repetative nature of these mistakes caused us to make the same ones over and over. Reinforcing the correct efforts would not eliminate those mistakes but sure would make us believe we could execute plays correctly. We began to feel as if we couldn't do anything right and eventually lived up to the expectation.
Don't get me wrong. I do believe we need to correct mistakes. Otherwise, the students thinks they are doing everything correctly and this is not fair to the student or the learning process.
The reinforcement needs to be timely presented. After too much time has passed the opportunity has passed for motivating the student.
Using the one hundred point basis is less confusing and more motivating to the career college student as well. This is most likely the grading scale in which they are accustomed and would meet their expectations to a higher degree. A scaled grading scale could make them feel like a failure which would motivate them less.
Using positive reinforcements motivates the students to do more for the class and more for themselves. They may not have the best support system at home, but when they get positive feedback at school, it makes them feel good about themselves. The student shows themself that they can do it. I like to give out stickers on homework for excellent work. The students really seem to like it. Sometimes brings out a bit of competitive (not too much) competition.
I grade their lab sheets, Progress Reports, Sign-off on the work that they have completed, and let them know when they have done a good job.
Reinforcing students as a form of motivation shows students how much an instructor cares. Students judge instructors, not only on their expertise in the assigned field, but also on how they treat their students. A good attitude and behavior can be contagious. If we show students they way to success, often times they will take the advice, provided that we help them along the way. The way we do that, is through motivation, positive reinforcement, and providing a caring classroom environment.
Students need to be told how well they are doing each day and keep them updated on their progress in the class room. There should never be any secrets when it comes to the student's progress. When the student knows where they stand in the evaluation process this will motivate them to do better or to maintain current grades. Immediate feedback is also key to the motivation of a student.
