Kimberly,
You are right about how encouragement goes a long way in student motivation. The more success they can see the greater their engagement is going to be. So we need to keep focusing on their successes and help them move toward their career goals.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I try and use an example of something that is relevant to my students. I draw from my experience and their backgrounds. I have found humor to be a very useful tool at the end of a long day.
Motivating students can be as simple as verbalizing their achievements so far in class. Acknowledging how far they have come in such a short amount of time is a real motivator for some people. Knowing that an instructor is paying attention to what they are doing and what successes they have made makes a real difference in a student's abiltiy to stay motivated.
Asking the students why they have chosen the particuler field they have chosen.Sharing your experiences and enthusiasm with them helps get them motivated
One way that motivation can be defined is determining unmet needs and then determining methods to meet those needs. Extrinsic motivators/rewards can be written feedback, verbal feedback, candy, pizza, or small rewards for excellent work or performance or just for fun! For example, Pie (PSI) Day--3.14--March 14th--is fast approaching!
However, the best motivators are likely intrinsic motivators/rewards, which students give themselves. Some examples might include achieving a great score on a quiz, positive feedback on a project or assignment from the instructor or peers, or possibly a real sense of accomplishment at the end of term after they have mastered what was a totally new subject matter at the beginng of the term (accounting, statistics, anatomy, etc.).
Samuel,
Good strategy. Thanks for sharing it with us. I know it will be of help to other instructors.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I also use the "group quiz" in class, and it works well. One option to that method is divide the class into groups and have group A work on questions 1-10, group B work on 11-20, and so on. Then have each group present their answers to the rest of the class.
Tahiddie,
This really helps to build their confidence in the new material they are learning. Good point.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
WHEN THE STUDENTS ANSWER QUESTIONS; LET THEM KNOW HOW PROUD YOU ARE.
I always relate my work experience to course subjet by giving many examples. I speak about those experiences, show them examples whenever possible. Use those experiences by having students problem solve some of those issues I experienced.
At the beginning of all my classes is written on the whiteboard,How much money do you wish to make and how hard do you want to work to get it. Once the questions are given it opens a lot of doors,We now see,what is in the students mind and what are they thinking,The trade that I am in the possabillities are endless.
I have found that each indivdual student has a different motivation. Some students are all about grades, others are about positive reinforcement.
i agree telling of past experiances and how we handled the situations they lesiten and learn
I love to motivate my students by relating our topic back to my personal experiences in the field.
Some examples of effective motivation techniques that career college instructors can use in their classes would include the application of their real life (work) experiences. The expertise gained in the workplace can “fill in the gaps†of what is not found within the textbooks. The students can view these experiences as an application of knowledge. Moreover, the instructors’ experiences can motivate the students to discover that their knowledge procured from the classroom can be utilized in a professional arena, as well as in a personal fashion.
-TWB
Nancy,
Students love stories don't they. Stories from the field and how you worked through different situations help the students to see the value of the content you are giving them. Makes their course relevant to their career goals.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
trying to get the students to find something in their past experience that they think may apply as wrell as sharing my own professional as well as personal experiences. I can usually give the students an example of when i didnt apply proper technique or judgement and what the outcome was, and using humor to do it is a big hit.
Personal stories from my past experiences in the field. Stories that can give students a visual example of the topic being discussed and help to retain the information through connection with the stories.
Alfredo,
Students love real world scenarios. Case studies that instructors bring to class lets the students use their newly acquired knowledge and skills and develop their problem solving abilities. Real world scenarios also help students to see the value of the content they are acquiring through application.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Something that seems to work well is using real world scenarios. Actual industry practices and examples as what the students are currently learning.
