On the first day of class, I like to say something like, "Many students have told me this is their very favorite class of all the classes they've taken" or "This is one of my favorite classes to teach because it's so useful and practical and you've going to learn so many fun and interesting things." I may talk about how graduates have used the specific things they learned in this class to be successful. Mostly I think what makes the most difference is if I'm enthusiastic and excited about the course.
When discussing the importance of prophylactic antibiotics for patients with joint replacement, I told a story about my late mother-in-law who was never told to take antibiotics following her knee replacement surgery. A couple years later she wound up back in the hospital for a month long treatment of IV antibiotics followed by another knee replacement on the same knee, due to infection.
I talk about work experience and specific events to get them in the state of mind of the subject.
Hi Dr. Cappa,
I have found that variation of teaching methods really get students excited. Students get bored whenever we use the same teaching method day after day. I like to mention the potential income every opportunity I get to generate excitement.
Patricia
Hi Patrick,
Course relevancy is a sure way to get students pumped up. They want to know how they will benefit from the course.
Patricia
Hi Susan,
Students love to and need to hear about our experiences as they apply to their field of study.
Patricia
Hi Lisa,
Eye-to-eye contact is very important, but how does that get them excited about the course content?
Patricia
have experts from the field ( chefs ) come in and talk about the relevancy of the class to their future success
Give them future goals to look forward to. By showing them the future outcome of what they learn in this course they can become excited to learn about the skills they aquire.
I believe it is important to keep your motivation for completing your education goals at the forefront of your thoughts as you work to achieve those goals. So I periodically engage my students in discussions that focus on why they are in the program. Is it because they are unhappy in their current profession? Is it because they want more money? Is it because they want to be able to make ends meet for their loved ones without working two and three jobs to do it? I find that these discussions leave my students ' fired up' (albeit temporarily) to learn more and perform at higher levels.
I agree that eye to eye contact is very important. I try to maintain eye to eye contact with each student during the lectures. It helps me to see whether they are truly understanding the principles as I discuss them.
I often explain the importance of the information to things they will be doing every day on the job. I also relate course content to my "on the job" experiences with patients, and tell a story.
When I am speaking to dental hygiene students, I find their interest is piqued if I relate office situations I have encountered. Giving examples of a situation or patient in a dental office seems to give me more credibility and give the topic I am discussing relevency.
I always try to find some of relevenace fo rmy students
Hi Annette,
You teach the perfect course to generate excitement. Hands-on has always proven to promote great excitement.
Patricia
Because I teach English at a career college, it's sometimes harder for the students to understand the real-world application of the course content. On the first day, I start a general discussion about the skills learned in English class (written and oral communication) and the impact of those skills on the job and in other professional environments. I give them a letter from me and about me, which includes information about me personally and how my English background played a role in my previous jobs (outside of teaching). For their first assignment, I have them write a similar letter about themselves to me. In addition to information about themselves, I have them devote a paragraph in the letter to how they see the class preparing them for their chosen career field. This seems to work in a couple of ways. First, they enjoy the personal connection I establish through my letter and then they are able to share freely of themselves in their response letter. Also, the topic of why English is important in their letters makes them "buy in" to the class from the start.
Hi Al,
I like your outlook! I can tell you are very enthusiastic. I get excited just from reading your response. Excitement starts with the instructor, and it trickles to the students.
Patricia
Hi Marita,
Continue to share your personal professional experiences with your students. Students need to and want to hear what is happening in the workplace.
Patricia
In my experiences I have used several different methods to get students excited about my courses. I teach a statistics course where I set up students into groups and give them a project in which they can compete against each other. I have also given students the ability to "plan ther lecture" ---tell me what the would like to hear/see and in what manner. Lastly, I try to relate real world events/experiences to course content to demonstrate the revlevance of the course.
After the initial introductions of the instructor and the students, I believe it is essential for the instructor to be excited about the course. Excitement is contagious. I review some of the important concepts we are going to cover in the class and we discuss why these concepts have importance and value in the classrom and the world.
Maintaining excitement requires that the instructor always come to class with a 'game face' on: ready to teach and on task 100%. Most of all have FUN! Make it interesting and the excitement comtinues.
