Instructor Enthusiasm
How does instructor enthusiasm influence student retention?
Roger,
You are a living example of the benefits of being excited about what you are teaching. For students to want to share with you something about the course that they had some time ago is a compliment to your effort and enthusiasm. Keep up the good work.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Marilyn,
So true and so important for teaching and learning success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Lynne,
I believe this as well. If we have passion for our content and are excited about teaching it the energy level will be higher in our classes.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I feel like instructor enthusiasm is a HUGE factor for student retention. I believe it was your 101 CEE course, but I remember a point one of the Harvard Business school videos: treat every subject like it is your favorite. Luckily for me a number of the classes I teach are subjects that I really enjoy so it is usually easy for me to maintain that attitude and energy. I've noticed that it definitely rubs off on the students. I have some students that will come up to me a couple of terms after they took my class and want to share with me something they read or saw relating to that subject. It is always very satisfying to know that I was able to inspire enthusiasm for their major that lasts for months after they had my class.
If you do not have passion for your subject then you will not transmit it to your students. You give the subject value and energy and it is contagious.
I believe a student will be more engaged with the lesson if the instructor appears to enjoy teaching in his area of expertise. I know it got me excited about the topic being presented and disappointed when the lesson was over.
Nicole,
Great point. Passion for one's field and enthusiasm for teaching it goes a long way in increasing student engagement.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree 100%
If instructors relate passion for carrer and motivate students to feel the same way, together everyone can make huge impact to make this world a better place!!!
Wendy,
So true and so important. If you have passion for your field and are excited about sharing it then students think that maybe they need to be excited as well because there is value to what is being said.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Antonio,
Stories like those you share from the field are extremely valuable in showing your students the value of the content being shared. They also increase their motivation about being successful.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Kevin,
Enthusiasm sells. So does passion for one;s field. Bring both to class and you have some egaged students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This instructors enthusiasm influences student retention by demonstrating the passion for what they are doing is projected unto their students, the student will more likely succeed based on the instructors affect on the materials they are presenting
In my profession, instructor enthusiasm means everything. whenever the instructor is excited about the content at hand then the students will follow thru and be more engaged in class discussion. For example, sometimes in the middle of a lecture I tend to think about some life experiences that I have gone through in the past and correlate it with whatever topic we're discussing. Thereby, it opens a window of opportunity for students to respond and stay focused and attentive. It also encourages them to continue to move forward in their studies successfully.
To have the student see your enthusiasm you must like what you do in my field i cut hair and I do it well and I wake up every day wanting to cut hair and my students see that through the way I act.
Instructor Enthusiasm influences student retention because it sets the tone and environment of the learning experience for that student. If the instructor is not enthusiastic about the course material, the student also will not be enthusiastic and therefore lose interest in the course. This will affect student retention tremendously.
Tonya,
You have a great attitude about your field and I know your passion for it spreads into the classroom. As a result your students are going to catch this passion and make it a part of their own as they prepare to enter the field.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I couldnt have put this in better terms ! I teach because this is my passion ! I love EVERYTHING about skin care and it consumes me !
Regina,
You make a very good point about their need to invest in themselves and their career success. This is so important because it is their future they are preparing for so they need to see that if they don't put forth the needed effort it will fall back on their and their lack of knowledge and skills.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
We may also have to overcome an element of social/peer pressure in the classroom that isn't often discussed. I try to get my students to understand that THEY should be passionate about their career choice. It's okay to be excited when you learn something new. However, the world of media, video games and television seems to encourage them to save their passion for play time - not work time. As often as possible I remind my students that if they find a job that makes their heart race, they will always be excited about their work. My passion alone isn't enough to hold them - they have to invest themselves, too.
