What motivates Students?
We need to know what motivates our students.
How do you and your colleagues feel about this attitude? Has it caused any changes in the way course material is presented?
Do you ever have any students who simply don't get or accept 'the point'?
I agree, I often hear students ask "what's the point?". They do not want to exert the energy or time if they do not understand what is to be gained by the excersize. Clearly defining the benefits of each excersize could offer students a reason to be there and participate.
Could you explain in further detail how you set this event up?
I agree that the class cannot be too difficult or too easy, but what is the happy medium when you students of widely varying skills?
I feel a student will be motivated by "good grades" and reward. A student will gain confidence and will be eager to try once he/she realizes a "good grade" is attainable.
A class cannot be too difficult or too easy. There must be a happy medium.
This is the key.
Finding the motives usually clears the muddy waters of emotion and denial.
Challenges motivate students...so does the pressures of finding a good job after graduation to supply and therefore satisfy. In today's young culture, income is the great motivator. The challenge seems to be how much and how quickly can I get there?
I think a sense of accomplishment will get the students motivated and keep them that way!
I agree, the students need to be challenged. That way they know that they need to study and will be ready for the world after graduation. If the course is to easy for them, it does not do justice for facing reality after graduation.
Denise
change, keeping the students motivated we need to give them challenges and keep it interesting.
Isn't this a central part of the joy of teaching? Encouraging students and seeing them respond in a positive way.
Nicole, I agree with you that challenges motivate students. But challenges alone can frustrate some of them; it is a question of temperament also. I have found that along with challenges, timely appreciation of their efforts and encouragement works wonders. Their paradigm from "Can't do it" to "I can" and they start enjoying chanlleges and they themselves start raising the bar.
It's part of the American dream. I wonder if your students demand more of their school age children.
The driving force for many of my students is family. Many of my students are able to keep their eye on the prize to ensure their children have a better life than they've had.
The mention of an increase in pay has always helped the students remain focused on their ultimate goal.
Aren't we all, Jill? Do you have some specific techniques to share that have worked in your classroom?
Students are motivated through encouragement, good verbal praise, specific affirmation and positive reinforcement.
Seems like a great way to integrate theory, practice and elements of the current culture to engage the students. Will this be an annual event? Have you developed other ways to get the students enthused?
Students have multifactor success parameters. Some are motivated by being able to get through another day. Some are motivated by learning and understanding something they did not know before. Some are competitive and others have internal needs they need met.
Overall they are motivated by the faculty and the passion and expertise they bring to the classroom and the possibilities the future will provide to them.
What motivates our students are a variety of activities that is implemented in their program. I am a cosmetology educator and our school have implemented a variey of projects to expose the students to more than just theory and stateboard.
In 2007 our first project was "Next Top Model" where each student had an opportunity to exemplify their talents in hair, skin, and nails.
It was an immediate success! During that term attendance, academics, appearance and attitude improved.
