Hello Patricia,
The most important thing about keeping the students excited and involved is to show you care about their success.
Hello Sabrina,
I too love the idea of the WIIFM. Students want to know what's in it for them (me). It sounds like you do a good job selling the WIIFM of your course on the very first day. Keep up the good work!
Patricia
Hi Sabrina,
My institution has adopted a policy about missing the first day of class. The policy is as such, if a student misses the first day, the student MUST take the final exam. At my institution, students can be exempt from the final exam if they have an "A" average and perfect attendance. Students really work hard to get to class on the first day and maintain an "A" average throughout the grading period.
Patricia
Hi Gary,
I know this can be tough when needing to present lecture material other than allowing students to be in the kitchen. Students always want to jump right in without getting the theoretical aspect first. As educators, we must convince the students the importance of theory.
Patricia
My first day of class I try my best to sale the whole idea of the course. Try to portrait to them ( in their minds) why this course is going to be relevant for their goal's achivement.
At the same time I do spend time with the regulations as well with their requirements.ore and more as I progress in my teaching learning I am trying to develop a consistent first day.Be as clear as possible in a way that everybody can understand.
As I mentioned before in another message, the challenge start when few student are absent that day! But now I know that I do have to start again with the absent student. I pull them aside and try to sale the idea of the importance of the first day.
From this course I do love the idea of WIIFM.
The strong need of instant satisfaction in some of my groups is constant. If they see that they can gain something for their future goals they are more attentive.
That first day of class: for me is the must important one. Engaging process start, rules are review,
What do we do with the student that is always absent that first day of class? How can we get him involved in the course or what is the best method to help him catch on?
Our segments of each course go so fast that with one day absent we are in another subject.
Thank you
Sabrina
Understanding the course requirements is actually the easy part...plenty of "real life" examples to draw from in explaining the importance of the objectives. Since I teach a lecture course in a culinary school, the getting students excited is somewhat problematic. The students would rather be in a kitchen lab than in a classroom. Getting them to understand the importance and developing interest in the lecture material takes precedence over excitement.
Hi Lawrence,
Students can quickly pick up on it whenever the instructor has a love for the topic or vice versa. Positive energy does start at the top in the classroom, and positive energy is a trickle down effect.
Patricia
First of all, you as the instructor have to show the passion that you have for the topic to be taught. The positive energy that you provide to the classroom, will be accepted by your students and make them want to learn, which makes the learning process a more enjoyable experience for all. Relating it to a real life situation also makes it easier for the students to associate the information to an experience that they have already observed or experienced.
Hi Doreen,
Students love demonstrations on variou classroom concepts, and they especially enjoy the hands-on activities as well.
Patricia
Hi Abundio,
I like instructors like you who would rather motivate instead of intimidate. You get greater and more positive response from students when you are motivating. Continue to motivate your students!
Patricia
Hi Joshula,
Share Doreen's strategy with me. I like the ideas you have come up with. How do you feel your students benefit from this assignment?
Patricia
Doreen, this sounds like a good strategy. I would like to expand on this by having each student turn in a minute paper on what there goal is. Then go out find that job, and do an interview, then come back to class and give a short presentation.
Joshula
I get them interested by giving simplify Demo make easy and simple explanation. I avoid using deep words that confuse them, then we need to explain to them what it means, NO double meaning words.
As also love to used various examples and giving them more choices or variation of each and seems on my line of topic, its work for me, like charm.
Student need to hear from us instructor what for them to gained when we teach them. We knows already that studnet to learn but somehow we need to change their learning mode once we are in front of them, either we intimidate them or we can motivate them, I choose to motivate.
I get them involved by demonstrating topics and then getting them to do the same work through "hands-on" participation in the same topics.
During the first class I find it important to explain why this course is important to their overall development, why it is required in the context of the curriculum they are taking and why it is practical in relation to their development as a business professional. Sometimes students want to develop themselves in a specific area, not realizing that developing a broad knowledge base, including my course, will help them in the long run.
Hi Donald,
Students really do enjoy lessons whenever the instructor incorporates humor. What clever ways you use in order to get your students to remember information.
Patricia
One method is to relate work related experience stories of things that may be funny that happened while completing the task. Explaining the reasoning for using complete safety procedures that you witnessed or was involved in because of taking a short cut; these stories or examples I find help the students to relate and remember the task at hand. Although, I once had a student remember the story and not the recipe and when calling me after the student had graduated; related the story and I was able to give the recipe. In that case I found that it worked in reverse.
Hi Patrick,
You've said it all. Students are definitely interested in the points you have mentioned. You can capture students' attention by letting them know how the course will benefit them in the workplace.
Patricia
show the student how relevant is your course to be applicable in the work place, and how helpful it can be to have the tools before you get out of school.
