Give your student a good vision of the carrott dangling in front of them.
Many of our students are "car crazy" for high perfomance, and high line cars. I share experiences like going to "on track" outings with MB and BMW, being paid for the day to race and compare other cars. Coaching them with the idea of doing little things in a great way, will lead to doing great and exciting things!
Hi Dorothy,
This is a great case study. So sad due to the fact that many young people do not create a future for themselves. I hope your students listens to you in relation to the fact you have and are living the example through your brothers of individuals that don't work at creating a future for themselves. They have no future other than the one you mentioned and it is not a good one.
Gary
I have a very young student that tells me he should drop out because his friends are laughing at him for going to a carreer institute, instead of hanging with them. I have in class asked him where he would like to be in two years he tells me driving a nice car having a nice place to live ect. then I ask him where his friends want to be in two years. He tells me pretty much the same thing, then I ask him what kind of job or training do his friends have to get a job to get those things in life and what are their plans to get them he tell me none, and at this time I use my three brothers as an example who did the same things as his friends after high school just hanging out getting high and partying who at the ages of 45, 46, and 41 still have no real marketable job skils, live in my parents house smoke pot and drink all day, with no idea where the money for the house taxes or food will be coming from each day, or who will take care of them when they are dying of some drug or aclolhol related disease.
The carrot as you know is an extrinsic motivator. The true motivating factor comes from the student reflected in a mirror--him-/herself.
I have never found the manner to get extrinsic motivation to become intrinsic motivation in all of the years of teaching, studying, and researching. The teacher should sell a bill-of-goods to the student that is reality based and not one that is unrealistic. Hard work in the classroom results in an opportunity to do well in the world of work. However, one must instill in the students the need for soft skills along with technology in order to be able to be successful; for example, attendance, punctuality, deadline achievement, team work, respect among others. One the student "buys in" to the reason for a course, he/she might have a better vision of their future and be more intrinsically motivated to achieve in the classroom resulting in an earned college degree.
Hi Harold,
This is a great way to help them see their future if they are willing to put forth the effort. This increases the motivation level of the entire class.
Gary
Most of the students I deal with are also car crazy or have a "gear head mentality". I share some experiences from the workiing world and let them know that with persistance and keeping on track of training and classes that they will grab the carrot and run with it. I let them know that they will not start at the top but show them a road to follow to make master technician in as short of time as necessary and what licenses are needed to maximize their potiential in the automotive work place
I give my students a vision of the carrot by telling them about the $$$ they can earn,the more you know the more you can make.
Hello William and thank you for sharing your wisdom. I think that teaching is a lot like coaching. You must continually motivate them by putting the goal out there for them.
Renee Bipes
Hi Jeff,
I'm not exactly clear on your point about giving students a vision of the future. Would you expand on this? They have made a career choice since they are enrolled in the course but they may not have a realistic understanding of the demands of the field. They need to be given that understanding while in the course so they can know for sure that they have made the right choice. In many cases there is a disconnect between reality and perception when it comes to career choice. You are doing them a great service when you help them understand what is is really like out there in the real world. Keep up the good work.
Gary
I agree that you should give them a vision of the carrot, but they also need a realistic view of the demands of the industry. I'm not there to only sell them on their career choice. My choice may not be suitable for all...
I also share my experiences with them and also tell them that if they get the chance to do it, go for it. They will find out 1 of 2 things. They like it or they don't. It will give them a chance to do something they might really like or an understanding that it is not for them.
