Place students in groups and let them role play with real life situations.
Have a tape recorder of real life situations in an office and have the students listen and write a summary of how they would handle the situation.
Instructors should motive students by giving real life examples such as.
When you go in the work force you should always maintaine prfesionalism at all times because you don't know whom you will be attending to, and you have to leave your personal life on the out side.
1 complement student on a job weldone
2 maintain a positive forum
3 when students bring up negitive responses find the positive within and turn it around.
Hi Nancy,
I agree with you on using real projects to involve students. They really get into projects like this and see the relevancy and application between what they are learning and how they can help in their community.
Gary
Nancy...t hat is a great idea that would work for a Sociology course. We could do a project in any local social service agency like a food bank or homeless shelter... :-)
I have found that using a real project in the comminity is exciting to the students because they can see and touch and measure the place or room.
One effective way for instructers to motivate students is by letting the students figure out teh answers to engine faillures on their own with minimal help from the instructer.
David... that is a great example. I can see how seeing the end result of your work is a great motivator. I guess this also depends on your area of study... I teach Sociology... so I would have to think hard as to how to see the end result of our course room instructional material... I will have to give that some thought. :-)
I have always found that you have to find ways to connect the course material to the students lives. Interactive lessons that require students to take course content to their homes or professional lives and then report back works well. Any type of lesson or instructional component that is creative, interactive and enjoyable that also can lend to creating motivation in learners.
Hi David,
Congratulations on your successes. This has to be an inspiration and motivation for your students.
Gary
Students are highly motivated if they can see an ending result. I am a baking instructor that has been on national television several times in different baking competitions. Not only are students motivated by wanting to impress their teacher, and it also shows a student what an individual can do if they apply themselves. Seeing a giant check for $10,000 also helps.
I am fortunate to be able to teach in a facility where my past students have to come back for manufacturer training. On occasion I ask a past student to come into my class and talk about their life’s now being out of school and working. That usually is a great motivator. I think it also is how you instruct, that makes the students want to come back the next day.
Hi Ileana,
Good strategy. This is what I do in my classes as well with great results. This method keeps the students engaged and interested throughout the entire 3 hour period.
Gary
I like to lecture for about 15-20 minutes and then do an in-class assignment. The assignment could be a case study or just a question I post to the entire class for the students to discuss with a partner. This strategy really helps the students stay motivated and awake especially in my 3 hour lectures.
I have found that the sharing of stories and the use of humor in lectures helps the students to both stay attentive and motivates them to come to class. If the environment is educational and fun the students are more likely to remember the information.
Direct application of course content to an example that the students can relate to.
Walk the Talk! Example: Show the students what really happens. Field Trips, guest speakers, student presentations. What does succes do? Have the students bring in job postings. Help them set their reasonable goals. Work with them. Don't just assign and sit back. The instructor needs to be part of the class activity!
absolutely students must connect lessons with experience and how to apply them
I am always excited to tell my students what we are going to do today and the next day. I also tell them funny stories about my experience in the industry
Being able to apply immediately what we learn from a lecture really motivates students. When I talk about certain techniques or procedures, I let students know that after I have discussed this task we are going to lab to apply it. This makes students aware and motivated about whats going to be happening, which in turn makes them feel prepared for the lab.
