There are serveral methods I use to make students excited about a course. The main method I use is outlining the course objectivies and emphazing with they will be able to do after completion.
Hi Elizabeth,
When information is made real to the students, they understand how the information can help them in their career.
Patricia Scales
Hi James,
Super ways to keep students excited! Motivation is key!
Patricia Scales
Hi Rich,
Relevancy is key! Students need to and want to know how they are going to benefit from the information.
Patricia Scales
I have found that by relating the information to experiences I, or someone I know, has had in the field makes the information more real to the students. I also try to put a humorous spin to it to make it more interesting as well.
How our objectives are used to meet our overall goal. I use the goal to keep the students motivated as well.
I agree with this comment 100%. Real world examples about behavior and activities help to illustrate WHY this is important. Making it relevant to students almost guarantees that they will remain engaged.
This is true. The students get a better grasp of the course and how it relates to their chosen career path when you share a personal experience with them.
I use a lot of videos applicable to the topic, and always try to relate how the topic can be used by the student on their own vehicle, or how they can make money in the industry using the information
Hi Alan,
Students love it when we share stories/experiences that are applicable to the lesson.
Patricia Scales
Hi Lawrence,
It is a popular question, "Why do I need to know this subject?" I am very proactive when it comes to this question. I have a 5 minute PowerPoint presentation prepared for each course that I teach to share on Day 1 why they need to take the course.
Patricia Scales
Hi Vania,
Great variety used to generate excitement! I like the idea of including fun with learning.
Patricia Scales
H Renard,
Students absolutely love it when we make learning real!
Patricia Scales
Hi Linda,
Awesome! Students can tell when you have a true passion for what you do. Your excitement rubs off on to your students.
Patricia Scales
Real life experiences, I find, have the most oportunity for learning for everyone.
I try to appeal to every students interest. As an automotive instructor, I have a wide variety of interests within my class. During our time in class, I always try to incorporate a different automotive sport or hobby each time we meet. That way everyone can see how my course fits into their area of interest as well as others. This my open something up within them that they did not realize was there.
This is an ongoing hurdle I'm sure we all deal with. My class is so diverse in age, life experience, and culture it is tough to engage everybody everytime. I like to mix up the learning experience with lecture, visual, and hands on type activities. I usualy find a happy medium. Of course curriculum sometimes is tuff to get students engaged. I hear "Why do we need to know about this subject?". I have to respond its all about learning all aspects of our program and this is just a small piece of the puzzle to understand the material. I am always looking for new and fresh ideas to engage my students and make them excited about coming to class.
Once I have described the course content, tests assignments and course expectations, I tell them that they will have a learning activity coupled to a relaxing activity. For example I often include a fun, trendy or popular movie that relates to the class topic or show scientific/clinical videos that are visually enticing but very educative. I also do short activities to enhance student participation.
Finally, I give them very interesting or challenging assignments to get extra credit points (they always like this part of the course).
i like to use real life situation and give examples on what i do in the field
I get new students every 4 weeks. So I'm going over the do's and the don'ts on a regular basis. When I get to the part discussing the assignments and what types of things we will be learning I use alot of personal experiences. I'll pick some of the strange and funny things that have happened to me. I always end it with how much I have loved what I do and how fortunate I feel to have found this profession.
