Jeffrey Schillinger

Thanks, Maria.

There is a lot of research that shows that adult students do best under certain conditions. These include:

Choice - Providing students with the opportunity to select from alternatives based on their personal interests, intake styles and abilities enhances motivation. Students are more motivated when they see value in the assignments and enjoy they type of activity required for mastery of the subject matter.

Challenge - Requiring students to complete tasks just beyond their current skill level is a good approach to increasing motivation. Tasks that are too difficult raise anxiety levels. Tasks that are too easy lead to boredom. Anxiety and boredom do not increase motivation. Students can successfully reach beyond their current abilities through activities in which students provide, and are provided, meaningful feedback during the process. Teachers need to help in the search for new information and in the development of new skills.

Control - Student will feel more motivated if they fell they are part of the classroom management process. Students want to be involved in some of the decision making relative to both content and methodology. Too many choices or a sense that they do not have enough information or experience to make good choices may lead demotivate students. Teachers need to provide a structured environment in which students can choose from effective alternatives.

Collaboration - Working with others helps to enhance both relationships and learning. Students become more motivated when they share opinions, strategies and perspectives among peers. The social interaction of collaborative learning activities builds a sense of community. Collaborative activities are most effective when students must depend of each other to reach a desired common goal. Students inspire each other.

Constructing Meaning - Students need to see personal value and relevance in order to become motivated. Setting a goal that students view as meaningful for each activity or assignment will promote motivation and increase the likelihood of superior performance. Sometimes students will need to construct their own meaning and rationale for learning. Ask them to express their own reasons for learning.

Consequences - Students enjoy being recognized for their achievements. Positive consequences increase the probability that students will choose to do the tasks assigned and to master the course material. Displaying excellent student work, providing public praise and acknowledging student performance privately all increase student motivation. Reward the behaviors you are looking for through positive consequences. Recognition programs increase motivation and learning.

Community - Students need to connection to remain motivated. A student needs to establish a bond with at least one student, with at least one teacher and with at least one staff member. A student who forms all these connections have built a community that will provide the support the student needs to remain motivated, through the tough times as well as the good times that every student faces. Choreograph conditions, both inside and outside the classroom, that allow student to make the connections and build a strong communities that inspire motivation.

Maria Rojas

I work with young and middle age adults and I see how this is so very critical to do on a daily basis. Students are sometimes like to have their presence acknowledged in order to not feel like just a number. That acknowledgment and positive reinforcement can make or break a students attitude toward you through their duration in school.

Richard Smith CHEP

Believe it or not, we work great has a team. Myself, I have learned from you some very positive ways to help students achieve their dreams. Keep up the awesome work.

Michael Bridgman

Richard, I work with you and I try to follow your mentoring style. I know that you don't care if it's one of your students or not, you try to mentor any student that stops to talk with you. All the students look up to you as a role model.