Some times I like to show them a video of what they will be doing by the end of the course. Or bring in the product they will be working on and demonstrate some of the skills they will acquire by the end of the course. Get them involved and ask some question, let them ask some questions. Show them it is not super difficult and it helps relax.
Hi Curran,
It is a must as an educator to show students that you are excited about the subject matter. Excitement is a trickle down effect. Excitement coming from the top is motivating!
Patricia
The best thing to get students excited about my class is being excited myself. i am amazed at how valuable it is to explain to them why we are learning what we are learning, then after they have demonstrated a skill in lab tell them that they have learned what we discussed in lecture.
Hi Don,
Students get so excited whenever an instructor can show them something. It really is like seeing is believing.
Patricia
By having demostrations that use electricity to create harmless but large sparks that show how electricity flows and can be used for different things.
Hi Rachel,
I am a firm believer that "Experience is the best teacher." Students enjoy hearing your stories/experiences relative to the course content.
Patricia
I use real life experiences to draw the students attention to the relevence of the course. I have found this tactic to be useful because the students quickly learn why they need to take that particular course.
Hi Kelvin,
It is good to know what was the student's purpose for coming to school. Students always look at their instructors as having our lives fully together. We have to let the students know we have problems too, but we just know how to control our problems, and we realize we can not give up on our dreams due to having problems.
Patricia
Hi Benson,
I generally give practical examples of the course based on how helpful the course can be in the workplace. The way you present the material determines the excitement or boredom of the course. You're right, your personality has to come through to help keep the course content interesting and exciting.
Patricia
i usually will find out why the students decided to come to school and what they are looking for then turn it back to them by telling them where i came frome and how doing the job that they are looking to get into has affected my life and where it has taken me too
Hi Marie,
I agree the syllabus should be presented thoroughly on the first day. Students are always anxious to get started with the hands-on activity.
Students really do like to see visual aid being used in the classroom.
You are right, the enthusiasm in the classroom is a trickle down effect from the instructor to the students.
I have a thorough PowerPoint presentation on each course I teach to explain to students exactly what they will get from taking the course. The students absolutely love it.
At my institution, instructors do not get heavily into salary with students. The placement coordinator goes into great depth with the students about salary.
You will begin to lose students, if you bore them. As educators, we must be fully excited at all times.
Patricia
Give examples from your own experiences on how classes you took as a young adult that you may have not been that enthusisastic about, and how those learned skills payed off later. I usually present course content in verbal, written paper, and Power Point presentation. Interject your own thoughts and personality to make it interesting.
Presenting a well thought out sylubus is a good first step. Since our field is so hands on most students want to know how soon we get to the practical part of the learning process.
Using a lot of visuals to explain the course content is an important part of the presentation.
Once students have reviewd the content, some demonstration are given. The sooner the students have hands on work to do the more interested they will be.
Being excited about teaching students is important. When they see you are passionate and excited about what you teach they will respond in a like manner.
Students should be asked what they expect to accomplish from the course. Teachers should take note on what they reply.
In the begining of the course it is essential for teachers to be able to give students accurate information about the potential starting income and how we will help them get started in a job once they are finished with school.
In addition to the course content these things have to be reinforced all the time.
If tasks are repetative, new and exciting methods must be introduced in an on-going basis all the time. Bordem causes students to lose interest.
Marie
Hi Teresita,
Students become very interested in an assignment whenever the assignment is work related. I teach a Professional Development course, and every assignment is work related. The students are so eager to get these assignments completed with 100% accuracy. The students fully understand how the work related assignments will help them with their future.
Patricia
I do the same too. I would always use examples in the real work world. From time to time, I would cite my own obstacles and how I overcame them and how I am trying to teach them in case they came across the same obstacle. The projects I give them, if possible, are work-related. These, I noticed, made students interested in the course content.
Hi Micheal,
I use an awesome PowerPoint presentation for every course I teach, explaining to the students how the course will benefit them once they enter the work place. I find this tactic to be very effective. Students love to know the practicality of a course.
Patricia
Hi Douglas,
A video is always a great introducer to a course. Students enjoy videos as an icebreaker. The visual learners really like the idea of watching videos.
Patricia
I open a new class by explaining how the information they are about to receive will benefit them once they enter the work place.
I teach an advanced engines course at an automotive techology traing center. It is a required course for my students, and not all of them are happy to be in my class. After roll I play a video of an engine runnig on a dyno. It helps loosen up the class, before I go into examples of how this class will help them in the field.
He Glenda,
Honesty is the best policy, there is no need to sugar coat anything. You are doing the right thing by telling the students exactly how it is in the workplace. PowerPoint is such an effective tool to use during lecture. Students like it when they can see what is being taught.
Patricia
