I know it may seem simplistic, but commenting on homework and/or an essay, something simple like great point, or well worded has really been a great tool. I've had students come up to me and say they've never had that or when a smiley face was put on their test, they would get excited about putting it up on their fridge like their children do, the sense of accomplishment and pride is there for them to see and read.
Having a guest speaker from the field/job the students are interested in can be a great motivator. Students gain a renewed motivation if they can see where they will be when they graduate.
ASK, What job requires these skills; what jobs do not?
Judith,
I really like your slow gentle approach to integrating students into a "scary" effort like speaking in front of people. This way you build confidence in their minds while they are getting settled into the course.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
One o he things tat I use to motivate student to study is challenging them the first person that get an (A) on the test I will buy something to beneit the class and that as worked pretty good.
allow time for students to offer information as to what brought them to the field of study and share experiences that help them relate to the material. book learning is great and generally easy, implementation is the hardest part, share with them the implentation factor!
To motivate students, I try to start 'small.' An example is that in a Public Speaking course that I teach, I have each student come to the front of the room and merely stand at the lecturn for a minute so that they can just look at the students. Many students have a significant fear of speaking to a group. This exercise does not dismiss their fear, but it diminishes it. The following exercise is to return to the front of the class several classes later, to deliver a self-introduction of 1 - 2 minutes. Again, I am easing them into the 'real' speech. I think using several class periods near the beginning of the quarter or semester to allow the students to get to know each other, know the instructor, and have a time to relax into the course of study helps motivate the students to learn. It also allows them to identify with each other. They discover that they are not the only 'older' person, they are not alone in their fears. This feeling of community is a motivator. Fun is not a bad thing. It can go a long way to motivate students to learn.
Getting the student involved with the material whether it be group discussion and assignment, asking input from your class during lecture, just trying to encourage or combine the student with the class during lecture, you can often lose students during routine, mundane lectures.
Bring enthusiasm to the classroom. Greet students with a smile, and keep the topic lively.
During the first class meeting, it’s important to have the students introduce themselves. During this process I ask the students about their expectation of the class. This gives me a target to exceed. I can take that information and set the learning direction for that student or groups of students with common expectations and interests in this field. This allows me to motive the students on a more individual basis.
Other questions to ask:
When you graduate what job in our industry do you want?
Where do you see yourself in five years from now?
The more information that we have about our students the easier it is to motivate.
Kerry,
Good strategy. They are bringing a wide variety of life experiences to the classroom so why not use these experiences to build on the course content.
Gary
Christina,
Good motivating tools. Students like to hear stories about the field and when they get to see their field in action through field trips it really seals the deal for them. They get to see relevancy to what they are learning.
Gary
Have students draw from their past experience to explain how the course content would help them in their field.
I share my personal experiences out in the field. The students are extremely motivated by these stories. I also use field trips as a motivating tool.
Regular application of skills to their goal path is very effective
Real life experiences being discussed in class have been very helpful to keep my students motivated.
My students like the idea of getting paid for putting their new acquired skills to work and to be able to experience their art.
Positive feedback or praises are always good to mention in front of the whole class. It motivates that praised student to do better and motivates the others to do better. Positive feedback and praises also should be mentioned immediately later it occurs so that it is fresh in the students mind as well as the instructors and it needs to be objective.
Jeremy,
Great list of how to bring motivation into the classroom. This is what it is all about.
Gary
Cynthia, these are great points! I teach IT classes and we discuss the importance of effective communication via computers.
Communication is one of the most important skills in ANY field, and when students understand this, they feel more engaged and motivated to put forth a true effort.
I like to remind students that the most powerful of messages can be rendered useless if the WAY in which it is communicated is unprofessional and/or otherwise ineffective.
Jeremy Bolton
There are many important ways that instructors can motivate students, and I will share a few of my favorites.
1) I like to offer plenty of “real life†examples. I find that students feel frustrated and unmotivated if they feel that the material is “in a vacuum.†In order to feel motivated, they need to understand how the material they are learning is directly related to their career and to their everyday lives. When I was in school I always wanted to see examples of real-world applications, especially in math courses, and as soon as I did, the knowledge seemed to “click†for me and I always felt much more engaged and interested.
2) I always let students know that I expect the best of them. Often I receive emails from students if they have a particular difficulty, such as medical conditions or special family circumstances, and while I always sympathize with them, I also encourage them to put their best foot forward and to not give up. This serves as a driving force for them, and I notice that they want to do well in school so that they don’t let themselves down, above all else. When we have high expectations of the students, they have high expectations of themselves.
3) I always offer a bit of humor to lighten the mood in any situation. If students expect to laugh a little bit, they are more interested in the class and in the material, and they don’t feel quite so overwhelmed. This is of course a very important element of the “human factor.†Students need to feel like they are interacting with a good-natured person, so that they feel more relaxed, motivated, and inspired.
Jeremy Bolton
