Well I have something I do at the beginning of every class. I tell stories about real people, places, things, and events that show how determination, timing, understanding, and wanting so bad that nothing was going to stop it from happening. The stories give students hope in achieving their own goals. The students actually get upset if I don't start each class with a story...so it is working because they see from the subject of each story what had to happen to get to end result in each story. This helps to motivate my students to achieve the goals I have set for the course.
Hi Patricia,
Some strategies I feel are useful to help students buy in to the course is to be very enthusiastic about what you are teaching and to share with the students how the information they are learning will help them achieve their career goals.
Carole Ray
Hi Doinysius,
I like to gain buy in from students by showing them a PowerPoint explaining how the course is going to benefit them in their career.
Patricia Scales
Well, I always involve students and with our population here it is important to involve them as much as possible. I even allow personal feelings to be explored about certain situations, oftentimes they send a message as if they want to be needed or heard.
Give the examples of how the course will be used in the real world.
Hi Barbara,
You do a great job with getting buy in from your students. Students need to know how a course will either help them professionally or personally.
Patricia Scales
At the first session I go over the sylabus, grading/attendance, class room rules, expectations and requirements ...and give an overview of the course which includes how taking the course relates to what they do in their daily lives. For example one of the courses that I teach is Selling Principles, I give examples of how selling is an important part of getting what one wants, getting along with others, applying for a job, cooperating with friends, bosses or even family. It's not just about selling a product/service and exchanging money. It's an integral part of everything we do daily with our interactions with others.
Hi David,
I also have a wealth of professional experience and passion for imparting knowledge about how the course content can be used on my students daily lives. One example I use is that eventhough you start work at 9am. You need to arrive there at least 15-30 minutes early to make preparations, get set, etc up so that at 9am, when the doors open you're ready to do your job. Arriving 15 minutes+ before start time, means you're on time.
It's very possible that you may not see immediate results, but I think if you continue sharing information as many ways as possible, it will have an impact on even the disinteresting student.
I try to relate the objective to what they will be doing in their chosen career. Often times students don't understand why they need to learn a particular topic or they will ask if the information being presented will be on their board examinations. In beginning courses the answer is "no, not directly" as they are fundamental courses and the basis of higher learning in the latter half of their program. They don't always see the WIIFM.
I discuss experiences in the culinary field, emphasizing success and the skills needed to obtain it, drawing on my background with some illustrative stories. I review with them what they will learn in my class and how it applies in the industry. I demonstrate some the skills to be learned and in subsequent classes I prepare and share examples of excellent cuisine.
Hi James,
Yes, I can see how this advice brings about buy in. I like to share with my students how the course is going to help them in their career to generate buy in.
Patricia Scales
Hi John,
Students have a different level of commitment and excitement when they fully understand how the course is going to help them in their career.
Patricia Scales
I remind them that their tuition output literally gives them "buy-in," as in "get your money's worth. They seem to buy that advice.
I explain real world scenarios of how the course subject relates to their everyday activites, and challanges in their work environment.
Hi Jerome,
Students want to know how beneficial the course is going to be to them. We have to make them know that they are getting their money's worth.
Patricia Scales
WOW!!! Thank you for all the great ideas. I look forward to applying them in my classroom. As a new teacher, this information is invaluable.
Hi Jeanetta,
Yes, you have it! I can tell you get your students excited about your course. Students need to know how they are going to benefit from the course.
Patricia Scales
Hi Craig,
Great way to promote buy in from students. Guest speakers are priceless! They really add a lot of flavor to any course. Guest speakers bring book theory to real life.
Patricia Scales
Hi Amy,
I like to explain to my students how the course is going to benefit them in their career in order to get buy in from my students.
Patricia Scales
Using real examples of when and where the information or lessons being taught will be helpful in the workplace/career that the student has chosen. When using such examples with enthusiasm, students become intrigued, ask questions because they are interested in knowing more about the topic.
