Elizabeth,
Passion and enthusiasm are two critical parts of teaching success. We need to bring both each time we step into a classroom or lab. If we don't it is for sure our students won't be excited about being there.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Jessica,
Sounds like you are making a general course engaging for your students. I teach such a course and I work very hard to show them how my content applies to their future career success. When they get the connection between my content and their future they really get excited because they start to become more aware of all the different aspects of career success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Sonia,
Right you are. If we aren't excited about what we are teaching then it is for sure our students won't be either.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Mary,
I teach such a course myself so I can appreciate what is occurring with your students. I use a lot of role playing, case studies and guest speakers to reinforce why my content is essential to their career success even though it is not directly tied to their field of study. The more I use examples like this the more they become engaged.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The most important thing I can do for my students is to take care of myself and my energy level. When I'm happy and enthused about living, my classroom presence is enhanced. For me, this means exercise, above all, eating right, having hobbies I'm interested in, and resting enough. It's simple, but sometimes difficult to remember that to take care of others, one must first take care of themselves.
Enthusiasm and most sentiments like any communicable disease are very catching. In the beginning of our medical class time I usually ask if any students have any news to share or updates they have heard. This topic always has news so I know there are opportunities for them to bring up new topics and discussions. The first class day I do it and try to have enthusiasm. The days that follow the students bring in new topics. We do have occasion where there is a negative topic or a topic that can be depressing, this is just part of being realistic. This is where I ask them to apply the rule that any time a negative comment comes up we must come back with something positive. The students love to be quick to come up positive things. I am always surprised on how much I learn from them.
The instructor has to be passionate about their field to be passionate about teaching the information. The students can easily pick up on your euthusiasm or the lack of it. If you are not excited about the topic, they are less likely going to be interested in the topic. I also believe, especially in my field, you have to be passionate about our field in order to succeed in our field. I have to willing to show that to the students and hopefulling instill some passion in them.
Enthusiasm it a great motiviator for students. When students see a motivated instructor, it helpes get students feel motivated as well. A well-prepared instructor can carry motivation as they are flowing through every aspect of their lessons. This help students stay focused, with full attention and excitement.
In order to motivate students, an instructor must be passionate about his/her field. Motivation is what keeps us going in every aspect of life but, in education, will definitely affect retention of a student if he or she is not feeling motivated about about a certain class or specific instructor.
If the students see your interest they will in turn want to have that same passion for learning. How an instructor feels about what they are teaching will reflect on the students.
Instructor enthusiasm is directly linked to student retention for a number of reasons. I am an English instructor, so at a technical college I often find engaging many of the students to be challenging. It's a matter of finding what they enjoy and relating it to the subject.
On the first day of class I tell them that I love writing, but my job is not to make them love writing--it is to guide them through the writing process and to help them become confident writers. It helps to provide them with a variety of topics that fit each writing genre. If they cannot find a topic that they can relate to their own lives, they have the option of selecting their own as long as it is approved by me first. I've found that together we can find an angle on most any topic that is relatable to the writing purpose.
I think this is a huge part of student retention. Students want a classroom that is filled with enthusiasm and fullfilment. If they dont get anything out of the classroom experience the chance of them wanting to stay is very slim.
Often I begin class by telling my students that I love what I do and since I have fun teaching, I'm sure they can see this. My problem is getting them to understand how important Business Communication (English) is to their career. I don't often have attendance problems, but students don't seem to take this course as seriously as they should.
John,
Right you are. If we don't bring passion for our field and excitement about getting to teach it it is for sure the students aren't going to be excited.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Instructor enthusiasm plays an immense role. Students can sense when you're not being genuine. I try to project an attitude of positivity & encouragement but also stay realistic.
John M.
Robin,
Well said. We are the connection between our content and our students success. If we don't bring excitement and engagement to our classes our students will not focus on the course content as they should. As a result we will not have fulfilled our professional obligation as educators.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Adrienne,
Right you are about our attitude influencing the attitudes of our students. We need to bring our A game to the classroom each time we enter it, no matter what has happened prior to the class. If we aren't excited then for sure our students won't be either.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Instructor enthusiam leads to student enthusiasm. As instructors, we are role models. Showing enthusiams for our chosen field will hopefully excite students. This leads to encouragement.
Many students come to college to become better in the workplace or just to become better people in general. However, a boring instructor is worse than coming to school. Student feed off the energy of the instructor and become engaged and motivated. This makes learning fun and cause a student to think twice about coming to school, they have fun in school while learning. Learning becomes fun and helps the student to retain the lesson.
Thanks
I've noticed that student motivation highly reflects that of the instructor. If I'm having a 'blah' day (for lack of better term and you know we all have them :) then I feel my students sort of have the same attitude. On the contrary when I walk into the classroom with a smile on, upbeat, and ready to roll then my students are greatly motivated.
