Get Your Students Hired
Can anyone tell me what is the best motivator for students who enroll in career schools? Many personal issues including money, family, and other unforseen circumstances hinder the growth of career school students and often blame their circumstances as a scapegoat.
Hi Rasheeda,
The speil you give to your students is right on point. We must continue to be strong encouragers for our students. A lot of our students need constant encouragement.
Patricia
I let my students know that they will be face with many life dilemmas. But it up to them as to how bad they want someting. And I am always encouraging them that they can do anything that they put their mind to. When teaching if it is a term that my students who are outside the dental profession does not understand I try to put it in Laymen terms. So that allows them to fully understand the concept.
I agree that incorporating real-life goals motivates students. Additionally, focusing on the abilities of the students and using them to assist the student with the areas that are lacking builds confidence and empowers the students. This empowerment, particularly in an often disenfranchised population, gives the students the resources they need for success thereby improving motivation.
I find that using as many "real life" examples as possible assists me in motivating my students. Often I will try to tell them about situations I've come across in the field (or even heard about from others in the same field), where the information that we're learning was crucial or applied. It takes the information off of the paper and puts it into a situation that they can possibly understand a little more easily.
I think that MOST students in career schools are there for a practical reason. They want to learn a skill that they can use in real life to better whatever situation it is that they are in. I've found that by consistently reinforcing the fact that they're learning something to help them achieve their "real life" goals, motivation tends to follow.
Hi Jackie,
As instructors, we must do a fine job so that students will keep their eyes on the prize.
Patricia
Get your students involved. Have students to understand why they have chosen to continue there education and how we as the Instructor can help make this happen. Spell out the ending rewards this student or students will gain.