I always come to class excited and ready to go. i try to leave the outside world outside. I'm excited about my job everyday and it shows. i speak of my formaer profession with excitement and the students pick up on it, wanting to graduate and help make a difference in the world.
Keep the student in a positive mode. She stories, show passion for your field. Get them involved.
Hi Manuela,
Good way to bring in the personal touch without making it too personal. Students as you know really like it when you share your own experiences in the field. It helps the subject matter come alive and they really get focused when you share like this.
Gary
Sometimes you as their instructor are the only positive role model they've ever seen in their lives. Many of our students are seeking an education to make a better life for themselves and sometimes their children.
I always start by telling my students how much I love the subject and to please forgive me because I get excited and sometimes turn into a big kid. They usually laugh, but I know it catches their attention.
Sharing personal stories as they relate to the subject tought is a good motivator. Also, personal sharing where students can see themselves in the instructor are good motivators. When it comes to sharing, I am careful of how much I share and strictly relate it to the topic/subject matter.
One cannot motivate a person if he himself is not motivared enough to acchieve success.An instructor who really wants the students to motivate first has to awaken the sense of success among the students. The students need to have some aspirations or dreams to be fulfilled. unless they have dreams the motivation alone cannot work.
It is important to be positive and enthusiastic in the classroom as well as be knowledgeable about the subject and be willing to share and encourage students to share personal experiences with the topics.
Some of the ways you can be a motivating instructor are to come to class prepared with materials, lesson plan and to be on time. You also must get the attention of the students. It helps to have them participate actively in discussions and to tell them brief personal experiences that they can relate to. Your excitement for your profession is definitely something you can relay to your students through your body language, tone of voice and general mood. All these things together can help to keep your class motivated.
I completely agree! I always try to find a way to connect to each student. I think that having that personal attention gives them the push they need sometimes to continue.
be as professional as possible...if you aren't setting a good example for them...who will? also, I ask them at the beginning of the course..."what do you expect to get out of taking this class" and always try to meet/exceed those answers by the end of the term.
Hi Rob,
Keeping the excitement high is an important part of teaching. You have a number of ways you are doing this and I am sure that your students really stay engaged and focused as a result of your efforts. Keep up the good work.
Gary
i try to be a source of motivation by showing that my methods will prepare the student for the work force and that the time i ask of them will not be wasted. I try different methods of reinforcement through joking and cutting up on individual students. i sometimes go as far as to challenge individual students. biweekly pep talks are always helpful too.
I can be a more motivating instructor by listening carefully to my class. Trying to understand their challenges and where they are coming from. I can also do a better job of showing my enthusiam for the subjects I teach, which I think I do already, but I will check myself more often. I also try to motivate through example.
get to know the sudents as individuals and try to relate something each class period to each student.
Hi Donna,
Well said. The professor is the gauge for the class. If he/she isn't engaging and focused on sharing course content in a dynamic and way then student motivation is going to slip just as you mention.
We need to be prepared, organized and excited about our field each time we teach.
Gary
Even though I am passionate about my subject, if I am not prepared re: lesson plans so that I can be spontaneous in the classroom, passion alone doesn't cut it. I also pay close attention to my student's personalities and how they are functioning that day and can adjust somewhat my approach. I understand the saying, "variety is the spice of life";I like to 'change it up' in the classroom so that the material, no matter how many times I teach it, stays fresh! Bringing in real life experiences, guests, trips to agencies related to the student's field of learning, etc. also ignites increased passion for their field. But with all of these techniques, if you proceed with a monotone voice and turned off body language, the students will emulate you and also be uninterested in the experience. The professor truly sets the tone!
I have never thought of it that way.
Motivating instructors use their expertise in the process of teaching by sharing your knowledge and experiences in the field of expertise. Instructors need to meet the students’ needs by understanding each student’s situation and family life as situations happen. There has to be enthusiasm in teaching to generate excitement and interest within the students. The lessons and presentations should be clear and easily understood by the students.
Hi Damon,
Good comments about supporting student efforts and helping them to profit from mistakes. Your field gives them instant feedback because once they taste their efforts they know if they got it right or not so they can quickly adjust their methods to make their efforts desirable.
Gary
