I enter my classroom every day with a smile and a happy greeting. First impressions are lasting. You have the opportunity to set the stage so why not make it positive right off the bat?
Te
A display of enthusiasm , or a lack of, while teaching a subject, is like a person yawing in a room. It spreads and inflicks everyone in that room with a positive or negitive result. However, make sure your enthusiasm is trueful and real, or you,as a teacher, have lost all creditability with your students.
Paul,
Well said and sound advice for all instructors. We need to always be student centered in our approach because they are the reason we are there. We have the opportunity to share our knowledge of our field with the next generation of workers and that is a wonderful responsibility.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think if the instructor knows what they are teaching and has enthusiasm with a little flare on instruction they will keep the students intrest
It has a huge influence on retention. If an adult learner is in a class where the instructor is bored with the subject, makes it seem less than important, or never has any interactive activities, the students become bored. We are trying to hold attention of those who may have been out of school for a while, and at times, instructors have to be creative. I know, as a student who went back to school myself, after being out of highschool for 10 years, I had wonderful instructors, and you could tell they had enthusiasm for their subjects.
It is contagious. It is the difference of just sitting in front of the class and moving around the class. Show excitment when a student is responding. Move closer to that student, make eye contact.
Get excited. Share relevant stories, case study or involve students with their stories.
I tell other instructors, if you are having a bad day or issues, leave them in your car. At the end of the day, greet your issues, back in the car. It is about the students.
Lawrence,
Passion and enthusiasm help to "sell" the content to students plus the engagement level will be so much greater.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Instructor enthusiasm is key. Giving the class a passionate outlook on the field that they are entering is encouraging. Telling them of personal life experiences helps them to invision their own goals. Also, telling them about previous students success helps to promote positive determination.
I feel being excited in what you are teaching will assist in showing the students your love and passion for what you do in a career college. If I don't show this this may cause an issue with things like retention of a student.
Rodney,
Very important. Passion for the content and enthusiasm about sharing it goes a long way in helping students to stay engaged throughout the duration of a course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe that enthusiasm and retention go hand in hand. As an instructor, it is vitally important to show how much you care about the subject you are teaching and how much you care that they learn and apply the material. You get out what you put in, and this is very true with teaching.
Being enthusiasm about your class and teaching students will reflect and the students will pick up on your energy.
Marjorie,
So true and so important.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
If the instructor has enthusiasm and passion for what he/she is teaching, this will influence the students to learn and participate more in class, thus, increasing their chances to be successful in school.
Jean,
Passion, zeal, excitement and focus are elements needed for good teaching as well as learning to occur. Thank you for these great remarks about the value of them.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
If an instructor is not enthusiastic and excited about what they are teaching, how can a student possibly be excited about it? It is a lot like being a part of a family. If one person is grouchy, it has a tendency to make the rest of the family a tad grouchy. Attitudes rub off on those around you and they have a tendency to take on your view, even if they don't necessarily agree with it.
Of course passion is key but so is being a role model and leader in your profession is too. This demonstrates passion too as well as skill and knowledge. Passion is one part of demonstrating enthusiasm and so increasing student retention.
Having been a student with both enthusiastic instructors and unenthusiastic instructors, I've seen first hand how hard it is to stay motivated to learn, complete assignments, and have a desire to attend classes when the instructor doesn't have a fire in them for the subject they are supposed to be teaching. When an instructor that I have had in the past showed a passion for the subject he was teaching, it was hard not to also begin to catch the passion. You wanted to learn more, do more, and come more often. In contrast, when someone is just "teaching" the subject without the emotion behind it, you tend to just do what is expected and nothing more. Attendance starts to not be a priority and if the class doesn't seem relevant more people will just drop out or drop off the grid without any last contact.
Jennifer,
Good for you and your approach. You are "selling" an area that may not be seen as being excited but due to your passion and excitement it is seen as being valuable and possibly a career choice. This is such a compliment to your effort and professionalism.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I teach Medical Coding, easily a boring subject. But, coding is my passion and it comes across in class. The students may not love coding like I do, but they see how much I like it and don’t tune out in class. I usually I have a couple who leave class truly liking Coding and are considering it as a career choice.
