I teach about working on motorcycles and making money doing that. Most of my students are already excited and wanting to get started. The motorcycle industry is primarily made up of people who are enthusiastic about them. Doesn't take much to get them going. It is harder to slow them down.
With enthusiasm! They are told about the cool things they are going to learn and how it will apply and benifit them once they are out in the feild.
Hi David,
It is very important to share the course requirements on the first day of class. I also like the idea as to how you share the course requirements throughout the course. Students always enjoy hearing the related instructor's experiences as well.
Patricia
I try to go over the syllabus in an energetic and conversational manner -- if I sound excited, then it tends to be infectious. I also try to relate course requirements to standards in the workplace. For example, students dread in-class presentations, but I explain that in their careers they will have to present their ideas to colleagues, bosses, and clients, and that this is an opportunity to work on those skills. Because they see what's in it for them, the requirements go down smoother.
On the first day of the course and many times throughout the course I spend quite a bit of time discussing the course requirements and what the students will get out of them. As I do this I fold into the discussions why these requirements and expectations are important and relate them to my own field experiences. It really gets the class into asking further questions and also serves as a motivational factor as to why they are engaging into this particular class.
Hello Karen,
Students enjoy knowing what they are studying/learning is current. Who wants to learn out-dated information anyway?
Patricia
Hi Tricia,
What a clever way to get students to communicate with each other, and at the same time, the students are learning about accounting.
Patricia
Patricia, Another way I do this is through the use of current events. I have the class bring in news articles either from the internet or a newspaper to discuss. They learn the ramifications of the law as well as being shown, that what they are studying is current.
Hello Karen,
Again, nothing is better than having fun while learning. Students tend to really retain information that is learned in a fun way.
Patricia
I have a book that has old and new cases that are put in the format of cartoons. I choose which ones pertain to the class I am teaching and on the first day ask the students to read them, and decide the case. It introduces them to the law but in a fun way.
I teach an Advanced Management class where a lot of emphasis is placed on teamwork and communicating. On the first day of class, after reviewing the syllabus and course expectations, we play a "get to know each other" BINGO game. Each student is given a BINGO card and, instead of numbers on the cards, each square contains a piece of information, personality trait, or quality. Students have to navigate around the room and get their peers to sign a square (obviously they have to talk and communicate with each other to figure out who belongs where). As students yell out "BINGO" they then have to explain each signature and why that person belongs on that square. It is a great game, a great icebreaker, and strongly reinforces the emphasis of working together and communicating.
Hi LaWanda,
Students are excited to come back to find out about Part II (cliffhanger). It is a job as an educator to motivate your students to want to return to class.
Patricia
It really pays for students to bit in early on and throughout the course/module. You have to entice students to return to class daily - one methods is to leave a "cliffhanger" at the end of the day - students will want to return the next day.
LaWanda
Hi Mark,
Getting students to bit in early is key. Our kinesthetic learners love placing their hands on items they will be using as well as your other type of learners. I love the eagerness and excitement of wanting to get started and learn.
Patricia
Hi Marvin,
What a super class activity! No one knows your belongings better than you. Students enjoy talking about their possessions.
Patricia
Hi LaWanda,
We are always interested in WHAT IS IN IT FOR ME! Guest speakers play a large role in the "WIFM" syndrome. Our students are enrolled with hopes of graduating and getting a great career at the end.
Patricia
I like to start on day 1 with a fairly brief overview of what will be taking place in the next 3 weeks and draw then in by showing them tools, components, and accessories of what they will be learning. It is important to get them to bit in early and place thier hands on items that they will be using. This will set the stage for future talks , lectures, and assignments. They open up with questions that lead to discussions of what will take place, and you get full participation out of the whole group. Excitement runs rampant, ready to get started and wanting to learn.
Im a Nissan Instructor. I let the students talk about thier own cars, They take great pride in thier cars so when given an opportunity to comment or talk about thier care they usually jump right in
Bringing in guest speakers can also spark interest in students - it's the "WIFM" syndrome. If they see a great career at the end of the tunnel, it usually gets them moving.
Hi Troy,
You have super ways of getting your students involved and interested in course content. Videos are nice visuals so that students can actually see what their growth should be by the end of the course. I too like to bring in products so that my students can have and idea by the end of the course as to how their finished product should look.
Patricia
