Empowering students
I think it is the instructors’ responsibility to empower his or her students through class activities. Instructors set the tone for the entire classroom. Students would be encouraged to learn in different ways. Also, instructors should add real life situations to the lecture. By during these things, students would be more engaged with the lecture and the material covered will stick with them.
Hi Michael,
It is always a good thing to let students know that it is okay to make mistakes. Actually this works in reverse order, whenever students are given the okay to make mistakes, they work harder at not making mistakes. You're right, less mistakes occur. Students feel more at ease knowing that it is okay to make mistakes.
Patricia
I definately have seen the importance and positive results of being able to give examples of the relevance of the course materials.
I have my students remember dealings with people in the field we are training them for, both good and bad, and explain that often times, the difference between the good and bad is the application (or lack of) these skills. This helps them both technically, and in sales/customer relations in connection with their job skills. I find that this motivates them to try to learn to the best of their ability. I also go to great lengths to impress upon them that mistakes are part of the learning process, it's okay to make mistakes. This really gives them a sense of empowerment, they get over their fear of making mistakes, and as a result, seem to make fewer of them.
Hi Linda,
I like the movitation! I also like the quote you are sharing/displaying with your students. It is one of my favorite quotes. I am real big on inspirational quotes.
Patricia
One way I empower my court reporting students is to have signs in the hallway and their training rooms that say, "I am a court reporter." I also have the students tell me, "I am a court reporter" when they pass me in the hall or when they come into the training rooms. I know we have all heard the quote, "If they believe it, they will achieve it!"
Linda Baker
Hi Annie,
Once students realize the information is useful, they tend to have a keen interest in the subject matter. It is human nature to want to know how you will benefit from the learning.
Patricia
I couldn't agree more. Students seem to thrive when I give them examples of how I have used the course information/material in a real life setting. They enjoy hearing about how this sometimes 'boring' class information will affect their daily lives once they are in their career.
Hi RoQuanda,
Teaching period is time consuming, but just think of the end result...we produce quality graduates!
I agree with you 100%. Juggling both the curriculum and adding excitement to the classroom can also be time consuming, but in the end it is all worth the effort.
This is VERY true. It's also sometimes a balancing act, because within core academic courses we want to deliver both experiences with the core academic area and ways in which this learning connects to the students' career focus. This can sometimes be tricky, but it is very valuable, because it adds to student buy in for the course. What do you think?
