Melissa,
They really do need to have some life directing goals. It seems to me that many of my students aren't planning but are hoping they will stumble onto something that excites them in terms of a career choice. An expensive way to find a career if they ever do.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
MANOJ,
This is a very important part of teaching and it really helps the students to get involved.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Have students set there own goals. Ensure they understand why they are in the program they chose. Giving real life success stories to students also helps in motivating the students.
It is very important that students can identify where they are going. They need to set the goals and objective of there program the choose.
discussing with students the "real-life" application of material learned in class is helpful.
Michael,
Sharing your own life story helps the students to see the value of the course content they are going to get. You are modeling what they want to become so you are setting the stage for a positive learning situation.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I give them examples of how my education greatly assisted me in promotions and in effectively doing my job and I let them know that I was once in their shoes, an adult learner who obtained a graduate degree while working full time. That lets them know that with hard work and preserverance they also can attain the same success.
Joseph,
Great approach. This gets the students involved from the very beginning and lets them share the life experiences they are bringing into the class. This starts the development of two way respect from the very beginning. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Barbara,
It sure does. They start to realize that they have a field experienced instructor offering them his/her knowledge. This greatly increases the development of respect.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
John,
Thanks for sharing this strategy with us. Yes, this format is a lot of fun and really expands the participation of students. I know other instructors will benefit from trying it as well.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Charles,
You have a good blend (stories and humor) to keep students engaged. Keep up the good work.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
December 14, 2011
Personally, during the first day, I go through a checklist on myself. This checklist consists of all of the locations that I have worked at as well as the ones that were my favorites and why.
The next step has proven to be just as effective. For those that have had experience in the field that is going to be covered by my period of instruction, I give them the opportunity to do the same.
At times, some of their experiences, big or small, are similar to mine. That solidifies what I have shared to the remainder of the class and I see the general interests and motivation in their faces as well as their responses and questions to what has been shared.
JFO
You can use your life experiences during the course.
I get students motivated by my passion for my profession. I think if a student see's how much passion their instructor has for their subject matter, it makes them more motivated to learn and become successful.
I commonly use my past experiences and the ages I have done these experiences to motivate my students. Students often have the mind frame "if he can do this then I can also". It helps students get over the fear of rejection and failure in their new study.
Real life experience in the instructors career prior to becoming an educator leads to motivation of the studets to enter into the career.
What I started using the last couple of years is something I call "The Group Quiz." And I was pleased to see the same idea being described in this online course.
What I do is
• pass out the quiz; give each student a few moments to work on it.
• then, after they have had time to consider their answers, I announce, "Oh, by the way, this is a 'Group Quiz.'"
At that point, they know they are allowed to discuss their answers with the students near them. They also know that for each answer, "majority rules," which means, if the majority of the class thinks the answer is True, or B., then the whole class gets graded based upon whether or not that answer is correct.
Students have to debate and really push for their answers to be considered if they see they are in the minority.
I've found that this really works to turn passive quiz takers into active learners. It also strengthens argument and debate skills. It also saves a lot of time grading quizzes.
And they love it, by the way, often begging that every quiz and test be this way. Heh, but you can't do THAT, either.
I often tell stories from the "real" world and this always works really well. I show through my story how English skills are very important and integral to the job world. Also, I try to use some humor to get the interested and stay interested in the narrative.
1. list of barriers and how they will overcome them
2. what made them enroll in college/this course
3. what outcome do they want with the completion of this course
Steven,
Great comments about the learning process with students. One of the challenges as well as rewards of being an instructor is trying to find the "learning key" that unlocks student potential. Having taught for many years I am still in search of that key each time I start a new class. It is one of the fun parts of being a teacher. It helps me to remain a "seeker" of knowledge along with my students because I want to be a better teacher each time I start a new student group.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
