Motivating Students
Hi All,
Can you all please share how you motivate or try to motivate students? I would especially love to hear it from math faculties.
Math is such a subject where you either get it correct or wrong. Thus, if someone says 2 times 2 is six, it is not correct. In that case, when giving the feedback to the student, how will you word it so that it is motivating but at the same time providing good feedback to the student? How will you provide the positive feedback?
How will you ensure that students feel they are valued member of the community?
Thank You,
Srabasti Dutta
I've found in my experience with online instruction that it's surprisingly important to engage student concerns on their own basis and not try to brush seemingly incidental concerns away with a "don't worry about it" or "it's no big deal" attitude. Sometimes a student can nitpick a 99% grade or minor detail seemingly beyond reason, but a "don't worry about it, you did really well" response is not what they're looking for. Answering questions directly is important to keeping students motivated.
Jumana,
I like that you reward them but how would you translate your M and M's to the online environment?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Hello Srabasti and All:
I give continuous positive feedback to my students when they are doing excellent. When they answer a question which was taught in a previous class I give them extra points to be used in a future test. I also keep M&M's or some candies which I give them when they answer correctly. I am cracking appropriate jokes in the class to keep them engaged in the class.
Thanks,
Jumana
Victor,
I try, not always successfully. I don't want to be online all the time, it just seems to be what I do.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Dr. Wilkinson,
Thanks for your immediate response to my post and as put it, abiding by the "rule of engagement" is the key to students motivation.
Again, thanks.
Victor
Victor,
I agree with you. When we hold all including the instructor to "rules of engagement" and accountable it goes a long way regarding students motivation.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Hello All,
When an instructor accords students with respect including their opinions, students are motivated knowing that they are respected. Even when such opinion on a particular issue is not correct, using a polite language to correctively address the issue, motivates students as well including those not willing to interact with others in class. In general, it takes little things taken for granted to motivate students. The most important of all is making the classroom very conducive for students' learning.
Thanks.
Victor Anyanwu
Pat,
As we say in the south, "you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar!" That is the truth. Keeping your cool in an online course is important and is a skill of the online instructional guide. You are to point to the items that will get them back on track.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I think the most important thing is keeping a positive attitude and avoiding any kind of negativity. I've seen students get angry and lash out, but most of the time that's just stress and frustration talking, and it's easy to work past that but only if I keep my cool. If I stay positive I can get them back on a motivated footing much more quickly than if I speak harshly to them or focus on how they're wrong about one thing or another.
Tammy,
You are correct. You have to continue the dialog to help the student through the troubled time. You may have to provide that students with an online "mentor" in the course that can help lead them through a course.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I know is hard to provide feedback that the student may be discouraged. However, start by thanking the students for trying. Then provide the constructive feedback followed by few tips on learning and then close it with another positive note such as "I know you can do it better next time" or let them know you are there to guide them.
Tina,
Good point. We have to use feedback as a way to engage students with us; in learning.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Hi! I try for positive reinforcement of what the student might have done correctly. Sometimes my response will be "This is a good start! Take a look at question #2 and try it again." Usually the second attempt is the correct answer.
Tina Cressman
Quiana,
You are right. You have to model the type of communication you want. If you want students to share you have to share. Good post.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Deborah,
You make a great point. It is important to look at discussion questions to make sure the illicit responses that are rich. That is our responsibility.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I typically, share a bit of my personal story with students. It tends to let students know that there is no need to be uncomfortable in the class. Their best bet is to be their selves in the classroom.
I encourage students to use their own experiences as examples. Once students feel valuable in the classroom, they are motivated to participate to the fullest extent. They feel comfortable with sharing.
I also find, that allowing students to share allows them to create and find similarities between them, that they wouldn't normally consider. Building learning relationships that last through their programs.
Thank you,
Quiana Dickenson
I have discussions that are more apt to get many answers and then provide many resources for the students such as videos or online links.
Another way to get them in the discussion boards is to give extra credit for posting a question or responding to another question by another student. They seem to do very well with this.
Deb Moerland
Chastity,
it is so much hard work and you do so much! You make an effort to reach your students and your students realize that. Thank you for sharing.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
MaryCatherine,
You make a great point about focusing on process!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
