Showing examples of student work and relevancy of course content and making course requirements clear for students all help in getting student excited about course content, and the course itself; thereby getting buy in from students towards the direction and purpose of the course.
Hi CHARLENE,
When students have a say they are generally more excited and motivated.
Patricia Scales
Hi Wayne,
When students understand the relevance of a course as to how it applies to their personal/professional life, they become more interested/excited.
Patricia Scales
Hi Mark,
Almost everyone loves some type of music. This is a great way to get students interesed in the subject matter.
Patricia Scales
Hi Emily,
Great information to share with your students so that they can understand the importance of effective written communication skills. There are so many adults who are very ineffective with written communication. Our students need as much practice writing as they can get.
Patricia Scales
Hi Pearlmarie,
It is always very touching when students share the stories as to what led them to college. I have had many students to bond from doing this activity.
Patricia Scales
Hi Susan,
I concur! Theory knowledge is fine to pass the test, but the practical knowledge is definitely needed in order to be successful in the real world.
Patricia Scales
I have found that allowing my adult-learner students to have a choice in projects/assignments--based from multiple topics I assign--is helpful in motivating them. I have seen increased excitement and motivation when students are allowed--within boundaries, of course--to participate actively in their learning and make choices in their plan of study.
I think a great way to get students to excited about the course is to show them that the skills
they will learn have a direct avenue to real jobs
they can be hired at and enable them to solve
real life issues which they might have to hire someone else without those skills.
When I teach computer networking, I show my students how I can access and listen to my music collection on any PC or other device that has a web browser and an internet connection. This is a fun real-world application of what they will learn. It usually gets my students talking about their music collections which helps the students get to know each other, and then we discuss more practical applications for accessing data remotely.
I teach composition, and typically most students admit they take the course because it is required; likewise, many admit they do not "like" writing. I begin by challenging them to think of situations outside of college, including in their own personal lives, where writing is necessary. My objective is for them to understand that, particularly in the work environment, writing is necessary. I also remind them that many job requisites include good communication skills, including written communication. Finally, I encourage them to see themselves as writers, that with hard work and persistence they can master the mechanics of good writing--the rest is their unique style!
There are a number of activities I do to get students excited about course content. They include:
Giving a pre and post test on the first day of class. Students do very well on the post test and this helps to build self esteem.
Having students (in groups) complete a work sheet based on the syllabus and text.
Writing autobiographies and asking some to read/tell their life stories that have led them to our college.
I think the best way to get students excited about the course content is to help them to understand how learning the material will apply to them in the real world. Understanding why it is important, and how they will use it and apply it in the work setting moves it from just having the knowledge to pass a test to having the knowledge to be successful in their career.
Hi Patricia,
Great question. The thing that I've found that works well is two-fold....one is asking how many watch HOUSE or GREY's ANATOMY..and how many understand the medical-ease that they hear. Then I explain that by the time my course is complete, they will watch it with a brand new understanding. Believe it or not, that works for them.
I also show them a picture of a stack of index cards that one of my prior students gave me. It stands about a foot tall...and I tell my students that by week 5, they will know each and every word on that index card.
I also inform them that as dry as the content may seem...I do try to bring some excitement to it by way of competitive teamwork games...Jeopary type games...and bonus questions.
To get students excited about the course, I continually make connections to the career field -- how they will use the skill/knowledge on the job or operating their own business -- or potential careers the knowledge/skill are associated. Similarly, as often as possible I also make a connection to their lives as consumers and how the knowledge/skill will make them a more informed consumer. I have found that showing relativity to the "real world" either for them personally, professionally or both builds their engagement in the course.
Hi Clay,
Try using various teaching methods, such as role playing, case studies, group projects, scenarios, simulations, etc. along with what you are doing to generate excitement. Students also love hands-on activities.
Patricia Scales
Getting students excited about the course is the hardest thing. I give a lot of real world examples and reinforce that the work in class is the same as the work as a professional.
Hi Lynda,
Super! Students really enjoy hearing stories as they apply to the real world, and they can relate the book theory to the story.
Patricia Scales
Hi William,
Great ways to keeps students excited. Graduate guest speakers are priceless, and they add a lot of flavor to a course.
Patricia Scales
I incorporate my own sense of gentle humor with real life medical/hospital incidences from my real life experiences or colleagues' real life stories.
In this way, technical information and theory of the course dotted with application examples in the safe environment of the classroom seems to have a two-fold effect:
1) they pay closer attention to the first parts (and ask more questions to make sure they understand)...
2) so they can better see the 'how it works in real life' when we leisurely discuss the 'for example...'
The best is when they begin laughing and popping off with the correct answers because they understood it all so well!
