Ana,
An instructor needs to bring two things to class each time it meets--passion for the field and enthusiasm for teaching about it. If either one is missing it will be a very long class session for both the instructor and students. Remember when we had such professors in college? It seemed that each class session lasted for days maybe even weeks when it really only run one hour.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
If you act as if you are bored or unenthused that sets their expectations for the subject matter.Sometimes you just have to fake it if you dont feel it for their sake. We do this everyday every quarter but we need to remeamber this is their first time and what we take for granted is new for them.
As an adult learner, when I enter a classroom and the instructor is not enthusiastic about the material I am about to learn my motivation instantly drops! As an instructor I must demonstrate enthusiasm in the classroom to engage everybody and keep them engaged. This is displayed through my knowledge of the subject area and reinforced through short discussions and questioning. If the student sees that I know what I am talking about, and I demonstrate a desire to impart that knowledge on them, they will have a much better chance of learning and retaining that information for future use. Instructor enthusiasm sets the stage for the entire course and it is important to demonstrate from day 1.
When an instructor is enthusiastic about the content and teaching in general, students become enthusiastic and interested in the class. An instructor who is not enthusiastic or is lacking passion may be seen as apathetic or uninterested. The students may feel that there is no true value to the content of study if the instructor is not even interested in teaching it.
Jodi,
It is a fact that enthusiasm is catching. We need to bring passion for our field and excitement about teaching each and every time we step into the classroom.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Thomas,
Balance is the key and instructors need to be aware of what is their number one goal and that is to help in the educational process of their students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think it has a huge impact. If the teacher is losing enthusiasm for the material then the student will. I think it's important for instructors to revamp their lessons every other year to ensure this doesn't happen.
I believe that humor in the classroom can be an excellent ice breaker and can help keep students engaged. The adverse effects that I have seen is when an instructor sees himself as a stand-up comic and the lesson that is being taught is lost in his comedy act.
Rusty Din,
I agree. Excitement is catching. If we have passion for our content and enthusiasm for teaching it our students will be excited as well.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe that if the instructor is very enthusiastic about the subject matter, he/she will pass the energy to the class. Using the different style of teaching will help the instructor make the class more exciting and interesting.
Chris,
I agree about the enjoyment aspect of teaching and learning. Learning as it has been defined by one person "is like taking a drink out of a firehose". A lot of information flowing at a fast pace but with humor, enthusiasm and engagement from the instructor each student can take from the classes the needed information and skills.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
May-Lin,
Thank you for sharing your college classroom experiences in your comments. They made me pause and think about my own college career and think about how much I enjoyed certain professors because I knew that he or she was going to share something valuable with me that day. On the other hand I had several professors that I think had died behind their desk but no body and bothered to check their pulse. Those were long and painful classes. It is so much more fun to be excited about teaching and sharing. This excitement spreads throughout the class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Jennifer,
Your last sentence says it all. If we have passion for our field and are excited about teach our content it will spread to our students. We need to come into each class prepared and ready to share so our students will know that they are being taught by a dedicated professional.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
If the edutainment is done in the correct way, there is nothing wrong with making learning fun. I try to infuse humor in a part of every class I teach. I think I have a pretty decent sense of humor but I use humor and/or wit to enhance the students' experience. If the students are having fun and learning, what could be better? I believe it helps my students with their retention of the material (a mnemonic, if you will).
Instructor enthusiasm influences student retention greatly. Many of us have probably experienced in our college days, a few instructors who had a very monotonous voice who droned on without taking a breath or varying their pitch or enthusiasm. Personally I remember coming up with any excuse not to go to class. I remember dreading going to class.
We also remember our favorite instructors who made learning fun and told stories while at the same time teaching us information. I was excited to go to class and was eager to learn from the instructor who seemed happy to be there and told stories in class to bring real world experiences into the classroom.
Instructor enthusiasm is very important in the student success. If a student feels that his/her teacher is a truly caring, passionate individual, the student will most likely be motivated to stay in class and learn.
Enthusiam is contagious!
Rose,
Yes it is a challenge. We instructors need to creative in our teaching approach so we can keep them engaged during these theory sharing times.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Myrna,
It does say a lot. It is for sure that if we are not excited about being in the class our students won't be either.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Keeping students focus is a great challenge,especially teaching straight theory. I try to involve students in the teaching process by hands on learning as much as possible.
I feel that our enthusiasm as instructors is so important. Not only does it show that we know what we are teaching but it shows that we love what we are teaching and that speaks volumes to the students.
