Getting buy in from students
What are some strategies you use to help get course buy in from your students?
I believe that getting buy in from students starts on day one that the student is sitting in your classroom. The student needs to feel that the decision they made to attend your school was the correct one. The instructor needs to make the student feel at ease and feel confident with their decision. Let them know your background and how you may have worked through the ranks to get where you are today. Become a mentor from day one. If the student feels you have the background and necessary skills to educate them they have already begun trusting you and the buy in has started. Go over your expectations and guidelines of the class with them, leave nothing to interpretation, ensure the students knows what is required of them to be successful in your classroom. An informed student is more than likely going to be a successful student.
Students always seem to ask more questions when I relate the topic to a personal experience that I may have had. They get even more excited when I tell them about experiences at potential clinics they may be attending as well.
Hi Gregory,
Students really do enjoy hearing stories and need to hear stories that are applicable to the course content.
Patricia Scales
Hi Virgil,
Students need to know what the benefits are to them so that they buy into the course.
Patricia Scales
Hi Stanley,
I concur! Enthusiasm begins with the instructor.
Patricia Scales
Hi Rose,
Wow, experience is certainly the best teacher. Your students are fortunate to be learing from you. I am sure you have a ton of knowledge and many applicable stories to the course content.
Patricia Scales
Hi Lacy,
When students have a choice as such, they feel as though they have ownership.
Patricia Scales
I think relating real life experiences and constantly reminding our students of the practical applications of what we're teaching them can help them buy in.In a way it addresses their question- What's in it for me?
I clearly articulate from the very beginning of the class the learning goals and I also try and highlight the real-world applications of knowledge that the class has to offer. I also give a degree of choice when it comes to topics for papers and projects that will help connect the course for the student, and the most important thing that I try to show is my own passion and enthusiasm for the course, I think that is a very positive way of getting the student interested and involved in the class.
I try to make it interesting with a lot of information from the internet. 25 years in the dental field gives me a lot of insight into patient behavior. dr behavior and othe staff members, so engaging students in dentistry does not seem that difficult for me
Allowing students to choose situations/scenarios/discussion they are interested in that relate to topics.
Real life stories from actual practice of therapy, usually is impressive to the new students who are looking to see how the course applies to their future status. Difficult cases, or humorous cases which come from years working in physical therapy usually add the punch to a technique course that i want them to embrace wholeheartedly. Then having a student with an issue get resolved right in front of the classes eyes is always a clincher, back pain is one of the classic examples of how a techniques applied carefully can show immediate relief and belief in the course guidelines of massage therapy.
Hi Maria,
If students have a passion for the field they are sold on completing their education. Sometimes you have to get students excited enough so that they buy into the course. Excitement begins with the instructor.
Patricia Scales
I agree 100%. Students need to see the passion and be able to have passion for what they are doing.
Hi Daliann,
I love the viaual effect you are trying to have your students envision. It is key to keep your eyes on the prize.
Patricia Scales
Hi Jeremiah,
Math is certainly the way of the world. Math is a a practical skill that can be used daily.
Patricia Scales
As a math instructor I get students to buy-in in a few ways. The first is to convince them the material actually makes sense. That it's the same logic their used to using, just written down more formally. Also, I engage them by showing just how powerful a tool for discovering the world around you mathematics can be.
By asking them what they are going to do with the degree. If they know, I would ask them to imagine themselves applying the material to that occupation. I would have them personalize it to fit what they will be doing or currently doing. If not, I would create a situation to help paint the picture for them. I would even get a guest speaker in that field to come share with the class the experience he/she has experienced in applying the material.
Hi THOMAS,
Students need to hear our stories/experiences as to how they pertain to the lesson so that they are familiar with how things are in the real world.
Patricia Scales
