Past graduates as motivators
Having a past graduate return and address the class is a great motivational tool. They can listen to me all they want, but when they see and hear the success of one of their peers, it really gets them excited. They can see that if one of their peers can do it, so can they.
Wow...I never really thought of the idea of bringing back someone from my past classes to talk to my current students. I think a perfect point to bring one in is about midpoint when they need their batteries recharged. I think if they hear about success and the value my lectures have in my student's professional life chances of retention should improve greatly. I can't wait to try this. Thank you.
EDWARD,
I do the same. They are great motivators for students because they tell it like it is and reinforce what is being taught. Their sharing shows the current students that they will in fact being using what is being taught before very long. This gets them excited and ramps up their efforts to be successful in the class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I keep in touch with many of my graduates, and bring them in from time to time for that exact reason. It's great to see them advance, and help to pass on what they have received.
Sally,
Good strategy that gives recognition in a fun way to those students that have applied themselves and are out in the workplace. As you say a great motivator for the current students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
At my campus, we make a big deal about our graduates. Career Services has a wall of "Work Selfies" where our recent graduates send in a selfie they took at their new job. We frequently post updates about where all of our most recent graduates have found employement. We certainly don't do this for the student (as they don't come to school anymore) but it is a huge motivator for our current students.
Summer,
I have graduates come in to all of my classes for the reasons you state. They help to make the content come alive and have value to the current students because they tell it how it is and how the students will use the information they are receiving.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think having a past graduate is a great way to motivate students. The grad can let them know what lies ahead and how what they are learning is relevant in the field. Many times students think I am exagerating what goes on in the operating room, and then when a recent grad can tell them it is what goes on you can see some of them start to change their attitudes. It won't always work. I also like to have a grad that really transformed their lives by completing the program come and tell their challenges and hardships.
DAVID,
I agree and use them in all of my courses. They say the same things I have been telling my students but when they say it the students listen because they are their peers, plus I am suppose to say the information is important because I am the teacher. The graduates say it because they have experienced using the information and skills. Always, makes me smile when a student will tell me that the graduate shared with them such valuable information and they act like they never have heard it before, when we just covered that topic in class last week. Selective memories for sure.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
