students should be motivated and intrested about their assignment I think
I like to give students examples how they will use the skills they are being taught. I like to share real life experiences and get them excited about the career they have chosen. This seems to help this retain information as well.
I have also found the case study approach works well the first day of class. I will prepare a short lecture that delineates a design project from beginning to end using drawings, photographs, and my personal experiences. I end the lectures asking students what the class liked or would have done differently. This always gets everyone talking.
Being from industry I tell and demonstrate how these new skills will benefit them. I also tell them about upcoming field trips to companies that employ our graduates. I also tell them I will not fly at 10,000 feet if ther are only at 5,000 feet,
plus I inject humor and fun in the learning process.
Happy Holidays,
Mike
I have a genuine enthusiam for the course content and it seems to be contagious. I teach a "techology in the 21st century" course and it is easy to get caught up in the excitement of current events involving technology. The Internet is a very valuable resource for me in my class and everyone in excited "develop a more sophisticated online identity"!
I get the students excited about a course by engaging them early. Getting buy in is important, but recognizing the maturity and setting the standard up front is critical. I then get students to comment on what they desire to get out of the course, challenge their rational and get as many as possible engaged in true discussion about the course. Most want to get involved and they pull the less active students along. By informing them their destiny is in their hands, getting active discussion and active listening started from square one, most students get excited. Keeping the excitement through the duration is another challenge. As in the module, clear standards, clear goals and clear expectations set the stage. Interactivity makes the production.
Hi Del,
What a great way to teach students how to problem solve! Our students need as many scenarios to provide solutions to as possible.
Patricia
I have had success in getting students excited about course content by discussing a problem situation that is relevant to the class, and have the students discuss solutions. Often, I present a situation that I have been personally involved with in my profession and discussion the outcome. In a design studio, students respond to images incorporated into the discussion.
Hi Cynthia,
Students enjoy hearing about our professional experiences. I especially like how you allow your students to share how they would handle different situations. Students need to know how to problem solve and handle various situations in the professional world.
Patricia
Hi Vickie,
Absolutely! Networking is essential. It still is a lot as to who you know.
Patricia
I teach computer courses-basic computers and Microsoft Office I & II. For my students, helping them see the practical application of what they're going to learn is usually pretty exciting for them. They will use the information they learn again and again. Both at home and at work. Usually if they know they're getting something important out of the course, they're pretty excited to get going.
I offer students examples of how their degree could be used in the real world. I offer student examples why it is important to networking with one another.
I share different scenarios with my students and how they would handle a given situation in the workplace, and then I discuss my own personal experiences and how I've handled them. They get excited in hearing about the "real world" workplace and knowing what to expect.
Hi Theodore,
I like the idea of priming students to get them ready. Students love visuals. Much clarity is added from visuals.
Patricia
Hi Timothy,
Super practice! I visualized the scenarios as I read your response. Visual of this nature can certainly bring about excitement.
Patricia
I always have the students imagine themselves on the job site and I paint a workplace scenario requiring knowledge of the course material. I ask them how it looks and feels not to be able to handle the situation. After feedback from a couple of students, I have everyone to now imagine how it looks and feels after gaining the knowledge from this course.
I like to show student my work, the work of other visual effects artists, and final the work of graduates. At the end of the presentation students are usually primed and ready.
I TEACH COSMETOLOGY SO I LIKE TO USE MANNEQUINS/ BEFORE AND AFTER AS A VISUAL I LIKE INSTRUCTIONAL DVDS I ALSO DO ALOT OF DEMOSTRATIONS
Hi Julie,
Yes, you have to first show great excitement! Get creative with your teaching techniques, play games, show videos, use the computer, etc. Students really tend to remember information with guided notes and lots of visuals.
Patricia
Hi Abby,
As long as students fully understand how the course content is applicable to the real world or their career, they gain a great sense of excitement.
Patricia
