Bryan,
My students love playing games like this. The enthusiasm level really increases when we get into our teams and start one of the games. We have fun and cover a lot of material in the process.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I like to use games to review material and boost motivation. Sometimes students don't really understand how much they know about a subject until they are tested on it. A game is a great way to build confidence and motivation. We will play "Jeopardy," "Who wants to be a Millionaire" and other such game types to have fun and boost motivation.
Brian,
What are some ways that you do this?
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I let the students know their practice is preparing them for a great future.
Brenda,
Adult students are just taller children. My students like to receive praise as well as rewards, including candy when they win the "Question of the Day" award. Activities like this are fun and engaging for the students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I feel effective ways to motivate students are to praise them and at times have some small rewards for them.
Bonnie,
Good point and it reflects your desire to get to know your students and that you value them as individuals. Knowing their names may seem like a small thing but in reality it is a big part of the student engagement process.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree that learning names is probably one of the most important motivation techniques that we can use. Everyone wants to feel acknowledged. I also expect my students to learn, therefore I should be the first to learn and be prepared for the class. It is easier for them to follow an example of a learning technique.
James,
I use Jeopardy as well for review. My students love to play it and get very competitive with each other. We have a lot of fun and their recall of the content is greatly increased.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Sylinda,
I commend you for your effort to bring the human factor into the classroom. I know your students appreciate the fact that you care about them and their success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Knowing the students by name. Showing enthusiasm and excitement about teaching them andseeing them understand it.
Creating games in the classroom has been very effective for me (and my students). I will offer to buy a soda (or drink) for the winner of a gmae used to review material for quizzes and/or tests. Jeapordy style games seem to work best. Now they ask when the game is going to be!!
I always remember my students name and something positive about them. I am always building on their strong areas so that they will not get discouraged.
LaTerria,
I like this strategy because it keeps your students forward focused and lets them measure along the way the progress they are making. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Kanidrus,
You are building a powerful connection with your students with these methods. You are showing them they are important and that you care about their success in your course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
At the beginning of the quarter I have the students write down 3 goals for the quarter. During the mid-term counseling we discuss their goals; whether have achieved them and if not what can they do to get there.
I always remember my students by name and make things personal for them. I also engage the class in exciting activities that keeps them focused.
Kanidrus
Jeffrey,
Students really like hearing these stories. They help to make the content come alive and gives value to the knowledge they are acquiring.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I like this too. I try to give stories that I encountered when I was learning the same things that I am teaching now. The stories make the lecture seam more relevant to how they perceived the same information that I had so many years earlier and how I like them thought I may not ever learn this stuff .
Karen,
I use small learning groups for the reasons you list. My students really like working in these groups and you are right about how they help to get shy students involved at a greater level. As for the A stickers I have found that adults are just taller children. My students will work extremely hard to earn a piece of candy or a smiley face sticker and they range from 18 to 65.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
