Instructor Enthusiasm
How does instructor enthusiasm influence student retention?
Enthusiasm is very important to keep the students involved and engaged in what they are learning
Instructor enthusiasm plays an important role in student retention. As a professional in the field of radiology I am constantly telling my students about my passion and what drove me to enter into the field. In sharing my enthusiasm I hope to motivate them to want to learn and be successful.
Two of the most necessary skills in the classroom is enthusiasm and a sense of humor. If an instructor is not enthusiastic about his course, how can students be expected to be? Moving around the room, calling on students by first name and telling an occassional tidbit of wisdom or even a corny joke related to the topic at hand, helps facilitate learning. When I was a young student, I enjoyed going to classes that were fun and I daresay I learned more. By incorporating fun in the classroom, students will learn more easily and the instructor will enjoy his work more, too!
Hi Jennifer,
Good points about excitement and enthusiasm. We have to bring it to the class no matter what is going on outside of the classroom. If we don't we are going to have challenging classes due to a lack of interest on the part of students.
Gary
I believe that it effects the learning process and retention greatly. Instructors need to evaluate themselves many times during a quarter. As discussed within this section, there are times where the instructor may loose sight of the overall purpose of their position during the stressful times of the quarter. Being the Retention Coordinator and an Instructor myself, I understand this and have found myself evaluating my purpose many times so that I am able to continually stay enthused and actively engaged in the learning process for the students as well. I find that if I show them the enthusiasm and passion for the subject on a continual basis, they are more open minded of the educational information and are able to motivate themselves as well.
Instructor enthusiasm promotes interest and comfort in a student. This should lead to increased attention to the topic being taught and ultimately lead to good student retention. This is an important aspect for instructors to consider about themselves. From time to time, we all need work in this area to improve.
Earnest J. Kendall,MSN, RN-BC
Hi Linda,
So true. Excitement is catching. The more we can bring it to our classrooms the more our students will be engaged.
Gary
An instuctor's enthusiam and love of there job shows through to the students. This is what helps them see is they want to be in a particular profession. By keeping things interesting you help spark thier learning.
It is easy for instructors to get caught up in the day to day routine. It is important to remember why you decided to become a teacher in the first place.
By showing passion and a "fire in my belly" for the content of the material that I am presenting I can generate interest and passion for the content in my students. When they see that I love, eat, breathe the content they will be more curious and thus be more excited to learn. That said they are likely to be retained.
Hi Kathy,
You are bringing the best of two educational factors to your classroom and students, your experience and your enthusiasm. This sets the stage for an exciting and engaging course for your students. Instructors need to reflect on these two components as they prepare for their classes.
Gary
I teach in a Career School and have over 20 years experience in the medical field. The fact that I can bring real life situations into the classroom and share my love of medical billing and coding adds to their confidence in me as an instructor and their enthusiasm about being in school. I want to spark that love of my field in them.
I totally agree about what Jamie said regarding students having negative feelings towards their instructors at first. I came into a postition as the new Program Director midway through the term and I felt some animosity towards me because I did things differently than their last instructors, but after several weeks of getting to know me, the students saw how passionate and enthusiastic I was about dentistry and how I could utilize my 10 years in the dental field to help them learn and understand what they were learning in a fun, yet educational way!
Hi Karne,
Your last sentence says it all. They really do. If we are not passionate about what we do and the fact that we get to help others achieve their career goals then we don't belong in the classroom.
Gary
Hi Andrew,
Thank you for the inspiring comments about how an instructor needs to come into the classroom/lab. You are right on with this approach. It is for sure if we don't bring high energy and excitement to the classroom the students sure aren't.
Gary
Instructor enthusiasm greatly impacts student retention. Instructors need subject matter expertise and work experience with an passionate delivery style to engage students in the classroom. Once the instructor has provided an open and positive learning environment, the students will stay. A smile, a greeting, a joke, a funny story, etc. all provide ways that students will evaluate their instructor's knowledge and passion for the class. Not only does the instructor need to be organized with their instructional materials but they need to have an upbrat delivery style to keep the students engaged in the class. The passionate instructors hold the key to successful retention of students in their courses.
The instructor's enthusiasm greatly influences student retention. Each instructor has the necessary education and experience to teach a class, however, they will not be as successful with student retention if they do not have the enthusiasm and passion in the classroom setting. Instructors not only need to be organized with their instructional materials but they need to integrate learning opportunities that engage the students. A simple smile, greeting, joke or story shows the students the personal side of the instructor. Students like that. If they feel comfortable in the classroom and they sense that the instructor not only knows the material but can present it in an interesting way they will continue in the class and not drop out. A successful instructor constantly has to be passionate each and every class.
So many of the responses I have read here echo my thoughts about instructor enthusism.
Truth is it shows when you really love what you do. I am a massage therapy instructor and just LOVE my job! Not only do I love healing, but I love being able to share and impart knowledge to willing.....and sometimes unwilling students. It is so rewarding to watch students, over the course of 10 months, change, grow, soften and develop into adults who truly believe that they have a place in the workforce. That alone makes them glow.
I think that my love for what I do shows and it allows the students to catch a glimpse of what it can look like to do what you love and love what you do. Seeing that changes the way they approach learning and helps to build their desire to achieve.
Don't misunderstand me, there are days when I too find it challenging to stand and deliver. Ultimately, however, the love for the job shines through!
Hi Susan,
Well said. If an instructor is not excited about the class it is for sure the students won't be. We need to keep this in mind each time we enter the classroom no matter what has been happening outside of the classroom.
Gary
