Motivating Students
Opportunities for success are just as scary as failure. Support your students with clarity and motivation.
I feel it is important to be realistic with students about the fact that they might now understand or be able to apply something the first time they do it. We are all human and make mistakes. The important part is that you do not get discouraged, look down upon yourself, or quit.
Jennifer,
Puppies and students are a lot alike in many ways. Both do better when they are given reinforcement and encouragement. A few warm words can go a long way in increasing the motivation of a student. Keep sharing!
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I strongly believe in motivation. Every student in the classroom appreciates encouraging words.
Every student responds positively to remarks such as:
You are doing a great job, student name!
Job well done, Student name!
Student name, you are highly potential student! I love working with you.
Carrette,
Thank you for sharing your teaching aid example and how you used it to get your point across. This is how teaching should be. You are helping to connect the dots for your students between the classroom/lab and the real world they are about to enter.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Clarity and Motivation is almost key in the success of your classroom. Very well said.
I realize that my adult learners yearn for encouragement. They want immediate feedback from the assignments,quizzes and projects. They want to see a sticker on their assignments that say great job. The want to know that you the instructor believe that they can be successful. They might not say it out loud; but the act it. Just look at the smile on their faces when they get a high five or a "GREAT JOB" shout-out from the instructor. They might be intrinsically motivated but that external motivation that comes from an instructor many times, serve to energize that student when the internal motivation wanes as it does sometimes. In addition clarity is significant.As instructors we need to find ways to concertize and clarify concepts so that the content we are imparting can impact the senses of our students. A few weeks back I was teaching liners in restorative dentistry and in order for my students to get the concept I brought my baking pan, a piece of foil paper and some margarine to class. With those items I demonstrated how the dental liners work just like the foil and margarine, to protect the pulp of the tooth and eliminate sensitivity. Clarity can be achieve by prepping for classes; know what we want to impart and how to impart it effectively beforehand.
David,
So true and well said. Learning is an effort so we need to make student effort rewarding through what we offer them in our courses.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
