Real-time recognition towards a group or individual student for a job well-done;
How a group or individual student to present or facilitate a group discussion
Attach a high value to an assignment or class project.
Stephanie,
What a great complement your students are paying you. Even though you teach a course that is not the most popular with them you are giving them ROI on their effort plus they are catching some of your enthusiasm.
Gary
I also teach English, and find these techniques work in my class as well. I've used assignments where students have written mock emails and letters to their "boss," and others where they've offered examples of good and bad versions of social media postings. These types of activities clarify for them the importance of course material; they write daily (many of them) but aren't aware of how their writing really can be tied to the job (even when it might not seem to be). I also try to show my enthusiasm for English--it's a field they aren't terribly excited about, often, but I find my own love of the subject "rubs off" on them! I often hear them say they still do not rank English among their favorite classes, but they like _my_ class. If students can see that the material is valuable and that it _can_ be fun, they are more motivated to learn it.
I think great motivation comes from instructors providing an excellent example to students to show them that they can also achieve their goals if they continue to work hard. Also, providing encouragement and pointing out a student's strengths can be great motivators as well.
I think great motivation comes from instructors providing an excellent example to students to show them that they can also achieve their goals if they continue to work hard. Also, providing encouragement and pointing out a student's strengths can be great motivators as well.
Many people have noted the importance of sharing our real experiences, our humor, our goals, and our love of our subject.
If we are bored and not excited, how can we expect our students to care?
I love math - I read math books every day - and each day increase my knowledge and my questions :)
I take this love with me into the classroom and teach math with the passion that it deserves.
This passion will be felt by students and in many cases, a dislike of math turns to interest or even like :)
Helping the student relate the material to their goals. Using clarity to get the lesson across. Showing empathy toward the student when certain issues come up that impact learning.
Enthusiasm has been the most effective technique for me. I can't fake my enthusiasm, and the energy I feel seems to transfer to the students.
Jonathan,
They do and they appreciate the fact that you see them as individuals that are striving to create a future for themselves.
Gary
Great idea. When you do this, students see that you actually care about them, which leads to them performing better in your class.
Thomas,
I like this approach because you helping them to see application and relevancy to what you are teaching them via working on problems that affect them personally.
Gary
Since I train students in Automotive Technology, I allow students to bring their personal technical needs into the class. I find that when they are working on problems that affect them personally, they take it more serious. We have trainers, but that doesn't present the problems that we get, and the variety is always very diverse. I also present situations in class, and have them discuss the proper diagnosis; sometimes as individuals, and sometimes in groups.
Kym,
They can really help to motivate and inspire students. I use them a lot in my classes because they help students to see the relevancy of what they are being taught.
Gary
What I do for a motivation technique is I have the students write a report just a small one maybe a paragraph about what they learned that week, and once they realize that they did learn something from the subject they want to keep learning.
Verna Bilski
I agree, by giving students our experience.
I break things down in segments and then ask the students for their understanding of what I have just taught. Most of the time they get it and are very motivated to learn more.
I am a very hands-on instructor and move around the classroom a lot, watching my students and giving them constant feedback. They love it because they know I have their best interest at heart.
I get students involved in role playing and answering certain questions to let me and them know that they understand the material being covered. And when they answer the question correctly, I clap and raise my voice with enthusiasm in telling them, "Yes, you are correct."
I also motivate students with a road game board that they get to place stickers on when they answer a question or a concept correctly. This really seems to motivate students because they want the prize at the end.
I allways share with my students the exitement I have for my career.Since I work and teach in my feild ,i'm able to reach my students with current and past experiences. I will also remind the students with each completed course ,there one step closer to the and goal.
I try to give them real life expeiences whether they be good or bad. They need to know that you are not perfect.
I like to ease my students into an assignment especially if I know it frightens them. When they find out the page length of my papers, some quickly drop my class without giving the lectures a chance. For those that stay, I use ice-breakers to begin the class which are relevant to the lesson. Some of the ice-breakers I choose are challenging to the students, yet fun. Having the ice-breaker under their belt of experience, I use the ice-breaker in my lectures to help them see they are capable of accomplishing something that was difficult. I tell them that many of them thought the ice-breaker was an impossible task, yet they accomplished the task. Then I ask "How many of you have young children in school that need your help with an assignment like this?" Many of them raise their hands, then sit forward so they can truly understand the assignment as if they were learning it for their child. With each step they take toward the bigger goal of writing a paper, I compliment their efforts and have them look back where they began. Most of them are amazed how much they have accomplished in a short period of time. It's work to keep encouraging them, but my students always complete the 3 or 4 papers required by a college to pass English 101. Then, at the end of the class, they always come back to me and let me know how enjoyable the class was and how much they learned.
Ray
I have been in private industry for over twenty years and I still have a passion for it. I show this passion in everything I do for the school and for especially for my students. In order to motivate my students I get to know my students quickly in order to create an instructional plan for each student that helps them become or stay motivated learning the subject at hand.
