Effective Motivation Techniques
What about those students that despite all efforts to get them involved with class activities, just will not join in?
Dora,
This is something that students need to understand. The human side of one's career is just as important as technical competence.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In today’s corporate world employees are expected to be team players. It’s imperative that students comprehend how involvement in group activities reflects on them. Employers use team projects to evaluate individual personality traits thus leading to different opportunities or promotions. As well instructors may take this time to assess student’s strengths and weaknesses.
Tom,
After talking individually with them and trying to learn why they won't I do let them know they will not pass the class unless they do participate so if they are not going to participate they need to transfer out of my class. I have participation points listed in my syllabus so they see from the first class meeting on that they are going to have to participate if they are going to be successful in the course. Generally after having a talk with them they will start to participate. For those that won't then they are gone by their choice or mine. I make sure that I keep careful documentation of what I have tried to do with such students and I keep my school administration informed as well, this way there are no issues when I move a student out. This doesn't happen very often but when it does the word gets around quickly and that really helps the other students to see the value of what is being taught with a distracting student being removed.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
