Darrold,
Love hearing from instructors like yourself. You are teaching because you have something to share and you are excited about sharing it. Keep up the good work and I wish you the best in terms of sharing your life experiences and helping to impact the lives of the next generation entering your field.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
LARRY,
You hit upon the two key elements needed for student engagement. Your passion for your field and your enthusiasm for teaching about it. Keep up the good work!
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
At 65 I feel I have enough knowledge of my field, an abundance of life experiences and the self confidence to integrate teaching with real world examples to keep my students interested. I'm having as much fun as when I was raising my children. If you love what you are doing your students will naturally want to find out why.
I lOVE WHAT I TEACH! MY STUDENTS GET ENGAGED FROM MY PASSION BUT WHAT IS MOST REWARDING FOR ME IS THEIR ENTHUSIASM !
Rochelle,
Yes, enthusiasm is contagious and we need to remember that as we approach the classroom or lab. We need to make sure we show our passion for our field and our excitement about teaching our content. This will help to "sell" the course to the students and increase their engagement.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Sharon,
Passion for one''s field and enthusiasm for teaching about it are two essential elements needed for student success. Enthusiasm is catching and it is fun to see students start to realize what they are learning and how it is going to impact their future career success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe instructor enthusiasm influences student retention both in and out of the classroom. An instructor's passion for the subject and the ability to make that passion relevant to the students helps to reinforce positive learning outcomes for the student which can also translate into positive approaches for the student outside the classroom as well. They begin to learn how to think critically and apply strategies which help them overcome obstacles in the classroom to problem-solving outside the classroom as well. And these strategies can be as simple as just learning to reach out for help and/or learning to accept help. I think our enthusiasm for helping the student learn both job and life skills is so valuable that when the student sees that reflection in us, retention is the natural result of that interaction.
Certainly we have to make the daily learning relevant to the field and impress upon the student why the subject of the day's lesson is important---even if it may not be the most exciting part of the course goals and objectives. Our enthusiasm as instructors should allow us to be objective enough to realize which lessons may not be as exciting as others; hence, we can mitigate the more tedious learning concepts by the skill with which we present that material----a very real sign of our genuine interest, and enthusiasm, for our student's successful learning.
Instructor enthusiasm is reflected in our genuine concern and effort to make the learning cycle successful with each lesson presented, and students are quite aware of when an instructor genuinely cares about setting the tone for student success. Enthusiasm is contagious and is certainly a key factor in student retention.
When an instructor has genuine enthusiasm for his/her course I believe this helps to demonstrate the instructor’s authenticity/credibility and even his/her skill level with regards to the subject matter. When you truly know and understand something inside and out, you can enjoy the comfort of the foundation of that level of understanding and can be more creative and engaging in facilitating learning of that subject. Enthusiasm is contagious so it resonates with students, helping them to connect with the content on a more personal level and find more value in the course. This contributes to student success/student retention.
Sharon,
Good point about enthusiasm. It is for sure if you don't have it your students aren't either. Enthusiasm is catching as is passion for the subject being taught.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Enthusiasm has a huge impact on student retention. If we demonstrate passion and enthusiasm in our subject material, this assists in engaging the students in the class. Even the most difficult technical classes can be made easier for the students if I explain why I love a particular tool or technique, how this has assisted me in my career, and how this can benefit the student.
Lacey,
Passion and enthusiasm are two essential elements needed for teaching success. Both send a powerful message to students about the value that is placed on the content being shared.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
If an instructor is enthusiastic and passionate about the course, students will pick up on the positive vibes and will be more relaxed about the course. If students are more relaxed about the courses they are taken, they tend to do well and work harder.
Valerie,
How do you bring enthusiasm to your classroom and share it with your students?
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Helps to keep the students awake and engaged!
Chris,
So true. Passion for one's field and enthusiasm for teaching about it sets the stage for student learning and success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Excitement breeds excitement just like happy people makes others around them happy.
Shari,
Right you are about excitement spreading. It is for sure if we are not excited about being in the class our students won't be either.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In classes I have taken in the past, I have found that if the Instructor does not have an excitement or passion about them for the subject matter then I find it very hard to be interested in what they have to say. I know it is the same for my students. I love teaching brand new students and imparting to them my passion for my field, or enhancing and feeding their own excitement about Massage Therapy.
N. Dianne,
Passion for your field and enthusiasm for teaching about it goes a long way in getting students engaged in the course. Blend that with the strategies you are using and you have the formula for learning and teaching success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
If you are not enthused with the class how can your students be. Teaching is part production and you have got to be on the mark or your students will see this and hold their enthusiasm will be hard if not impossible.
