My classes really enjoy class discussions. It allows them to share their experience, ask questions, and interact on an intellectual level. This in turn keeps them motivated.
Lisa ,
Thanks for sharing this success with us. This is exciting to hear because the students were engaged and excited themselves as they assumed roles and responsibility for their learning.
Gary
Hi Gary, Yes, I had no idea how it was going to effect them. As soon as I told them my idea of the show and asked them to pick a "President" /"Leader" I seen the level of maturity come up in each one. They came right together in a matter of minutes and created a closer bond and set the goal together. I was really excited to watch this in action. :) HAGD!
Lisa,
What a great way to involve all of your students. They do love titles, don't they? You are increasing the motivation level of the class by having fun as well as informative activities available to the students.
Gary
I have found some new ideas from my collegues that I have recently used and they worked quite well. Games, I have used "hangman" to develop ways of remembering some very hard words the students have never hear of or at least have a hard time spelling. They really enjoyed it the last half-hour of class. Also, we are doing a production on a very small scale but I have given the students the big names such as "DIRECTOR","PRODUCER","STAGE MANAGER",& "MC".they really loved seeing themselves in the bigger picture. One even said she didn't ever want to leave my class. I am letting them produce this as I just mentor the project.
Demonstrating your own interest and enthusiasm in a particular field, I believe, is the biggest motivator. If an instructor demonstrates anything other than this, the student may start to question why they themselves would want to be a part of that field.
I try to make teaching more enjoyable to learn, so that students will like what I am trying to teach them. Also, by bringing applied examples into my teaching, that can make students comprehend the idea more easily.
By Elizabeth Price
As instructors some of our students seem naturally enthusiastic about learning, but many need or expect their instructors to inspire, challenge, and stimulate them: Effective learning in the classroom depends on the teacher's ability to maintain the interest that brought students to the course in the first place. Whatever level of motivation your students bring to the classroom will be transformed, for better or worse, by what happens in that classroom.
Unfortunately, there is no single magical formula for motivating students. Many factors affect a given student's motivation to work and to learn interest in the subject matter, perception of its usefulness, general desire to achieve, self-confidence and self-esteem, as well as patience and persistence. And, of course, not all students are motivated by the same values, needs, desires, or wants. Some of the students will be motivated by the approval of others, some by overcoming challenges
Motivation is vital to drive students toward success.
I hope these 10 motivational tips will help you find the inner power to keep you moving toward success and see your exam score jumps like kangaroo on steroids.
Here are some teaching ideas about how to motivate students that I believe is best to help:
Expectations. Teachers should set reasonable objectives for every lesson that allow their students to progress in the classroom. Expect students to achieve the objectives and they will. Studies show that students achieve at higher rates when their teachers have high expectations for them.
Uplifting. Keep the atmosphere in the classroom positive and uplifting. A cheerful and motivating environment will fuel the students’ intrinsic need to succeed in their endeavors.
Praise. Positive reinforcement is a tried and true method of teaching students new material. Make sure to let the students know that they have done a good job. For example, you can give rewards or stickers for high test scores.
Variation. Because everyone learns differently, you will need to vary the means by which students earn rewards. Look at all aspects of the classroom when you are creating ways to reward the students. This includes test scores, daily lessons, and even student behavior.
Success. Motivate students by showing them that they can be successful in the classroom. Teachers can differentiate instruction to meet the students' needs by adjusting the corresponding class work to the appropriate levels. Class work can be modified in a variety of ways: shortened assignments, extra response time or enrichment activities.
Relevance. Show students how what they are learning matters in real life. This is one of the most effective motivation techniques, especially for older students, as it lends meaning and purpose to their hard work. Guide students to discuss the new material, and allow students to draw on their own experiences to enrich and comprehend the new material.
Engaging Questions. Lead in with questions that will get the students talking. Encourage students to discuss the topic by bringing what they know about the topic to the classroom discussion. Clarify any questions that arise by encouraging the students to talk to each other first and expand on their per-existing knowledge.
Problem Solving. Teaching students how to overcome challenges is another important factor in keeping them motivated. If they have the skills to navigate the problems they encounter they will achieve more. One way to do so is to encourage the pupils to ask questions when they are unclear on new material.
Teamwork. This is one of the most important factors in motivating students. When they work together to succeed at a common goal it will help them to bond and work well together in the future. Having this cohesion in the classroom will boost productivity amongst the students and make for a more positive teaching environment.
There are lots of ways to motivate students. Most importantly teachers can show students that they can be great learners. By addressing the various needs of the students inside each classroom, students' achievement levels will increase and so will their positive motivation.
Engaging the students through laughter is not a bad idea. I usually try to be very enthuastic when lecturing as to not become monitone and boring. When I am covering material that itself is rather lengthy and boring, I try to engage them but having the class participate more in the lecture and bringing real life examples to the topic.
Hi John,
Good for you and your students. I like instructors that can't wait to share their knowledge and experience with their students. It is a powerful legacy to have as you prepare the next generation of individuals to enter your field.
Gary
I look forward to coming into class with excitement. I set achievable goals, that are viewable by the student and follow up with them as often as I can. In doing so I am showing them that preparedness can be beneficial to your future, thus motivating them to excel.
I enter the classroom with a smile on face always happy to start a new day! I'm always on time, well organized and always ready to share my enthusiasm with my students.
Some ways we can be motivating as instructors is by sharing and listening to what students bring to the discussion table. Connecting with them on every topic and providing energetic dialogue each day.
Since I actually am successful in the field that I teach, I tell my students how great this line of work is that I am preparing them for! I tell them that I don't even think of it as "work."
By showing up to class with a positive attitude, smile on your face, and being very enthusiastic about the material you are covering. Relating the material to the field is also extremely important. Most of our instructors have an extensive background in the field so using "real life" scenarios and cases always helps keep the students motivated about the material as well. Also, using case studies and letting them work out the problems/scenarios are also fun and it helps them apply what they have learned.
Hi Kelly,
I agree about the energy statement. We have to ramp up and bring excitement and energy to the classroom if we expect our students to be engaged.
Gary
Motivation is needed for student’s success because it encourages the student to drive through the barriers that are causing them to lose focus. There are various ways to become a motivating instructor some of which include: 1) learning the background of students 2) Showing enthusiasm 3) creative delivery of the lesson plan and 4) sharing professional experience. Once every quarter the instructor should record their lecture to view and critique their performance. This will help the instructor complete a self-evaluation to see if they are in fact inclusive to all, motivational, and effective.
Motivating students always comes down to energy. If I, as an instructor, lack energy, the students will, too. I also try to give them real-world examples to keep them motivated to succeed. When students are getting ready to graduate, we discuss resumes. I tell them about the dozens of resumes I submitted before finally landing my awesome teaching job. They often become frustrated after a week or two of no call-backs, but I remind them to stay motivated because their dream job WILL come around.
I think that is is vital for an instructor to really take the time to understand their students and give them personal attention.
In order to motivate others you have to love what you do and be passionate about it.
There is something about a person who is passionate about their profession, it helps to instill passion in all who are around them.
