Motivating Your Students
What is a couple of ways that you use to motivate your students to achieve and be successful in regards to their career goals?
Hi Steve,
I like to involve my students in service learning projects. Through service learning the students get to use the knowledge and skills they have acquired in a real world setting. This builds their confidence and helps them to see that they can be successful in the course and later on in their careers.
Gary
I cruise the classroom and give one-on-one words of encouragement to the students. The keyboarding classes are relatively self-paced and it is more effective to deal individually with the students. I can talk to them about their concerns also and remind them where they should be in the class to complete the course on schedule. I also have a visual reminder through a white board that shows the assignments of the week. They are offered additional classtime during my office hours and on Friday, which is not a school day. I also have a star performer award that I give to the top grade student which I hang on the wall. Regardless of the age of the student, the students seem to enjoy this reward. I try to reward positive class attendance especially during the weeks before holidays and other school breaks when students tend to not make school a priority. Sometimes it is the little things that make the big difference with students. So, I want them always to know that I care about them.
I agree. In the Web Design and Intro Programming classes I've taught, the lab is setup in a way that allows me to roam around the room, making sure that students are working on projects and not surfing facebook. I'm allowed to check on their progress and praise them openly for their accomplishments.
In my Decision Sciences class, I try to find real world examples from each student that they can relate to -- this helps them see cause and effect that helps light that "ah-ha!" spark.
-dd
Hi David,
Good point about bringing real life examples into the classroom. This really helps the students to see the relevancy and application of what they are learning. This sets the stage for their transition into the real world where they are going to have to be competitive with their knowledge and skills.
Gary
The first thing you must do is to find out what it is that your student wants to do when he graduates. Once that has been determined, you may help him with a career path that is likely to give him the best results. I always tell my classes when discussing this, to always have a "plan B" or back up plan in case their first choice does not work out. In some cases, their first choice may not be the most practical, so I might suggest to take a more practical approach and then pursue their ultimate goal later on.
One way I like to use to modivate students all though it is not the most important thing in life but is important to my students as well as my self is to tell them that the more effert they put into there learning now, the faster they will move up and advance in there field which in return in any field would provide you with earning more money. In other words work hard now take make money later.
A few ways to motivate students would be too:
Show your enthusiasm for the subject and it will rub off on your students.
Constantly remind them that passing your course will move them one step closer to graduation, and their dream career field.
Steve, I like to show my excitment for the subject matter I am teaching and I like to quote from the very successful, expecially those in the field which we work in, it really helps to bring out what can really happen if one stays motivated. It also helps to pat the students on the back so to say for the accomplisments they attain to that directly relate to the field they have chosen to work in, ti works.
i do alot of motivating, one way is to tell them that they are doing a great job, they dont hear it enough. another way is to relate my expieriences to them in the middle of teaching to re inforce that if i can ,so can they!!. most students need alot of support in theirlearning today.
I demonstrate to them how the knowlege of this material is important to them and the industry.
I try to keep them motivated in the class room by telling stories of my successes and failures in the field, and they always like hearing about when I messed up. I try to make the stories funny and it makes the environment safe for them to make mistakes and not feel like the world is going to end. we learn more from our mistakes then from what we do perfectly the first time so we have to create a place were they can learn from their mistakes and not feel bad. In lab I like to show them hints and tricks that will make the work easier and faster because that’s we learn to work smarter not harder.
Explaining to a student how the knowledge and skills they are going to recieve from the days exercise is going to be relevant to their success in the field is probably the best motivator. When an individual knows why they are doing something it is much easier to become motivated to do it well.
Due to the material I teah being of a more limited interest I often hear "I'm not going to do this when I graduate". Instead of letting this discourage me I relate to the class and its skills to a time when it filled the pocket book for me, how 6 other empployees were laid off and I remained employed in a down market because of my skill set included the less popular but still need abilities. As mention by others plan B often becomes plan A when we lest ecpect it and developing skills for a plan B can never be wrong.
I try to motivate my students buy showing to them that this information I am about to explain or the example I am going to demostrate is neccessary for them learn to be able to be successful in the real world job inviroment.
Hi Chuck,
This is a great example that can be used by students in their own career development. By you having the needed skills you were able to retain your employment. This is a classic example of how to keep a job. Be prepared for it in a way that sets you apart from others.
You are right this is how Plan B becomes Plan A very easily since it is built on necessity.
Gary
THe best way is to show excitement for the material and the opportunity they can have if they are willing to invest in the class and the subject matter. Another way is to tell them about the successes and cballenges in the field so the get reality. Encouraging the students to continue to do their best and not giving up is great advice for all.
when in lab I use the students own cars to show lessons or demonstrate inspections so they see value in the material.
In A/C class I try to emphasize how much money there is to be made in A/C- especially here in Phoenix. I also point out that much of A/C is clean, easy work, where they can earn a good income without a whole lot of effort. In electrical class, the emphasis is on how knowledge of electricity is vital- EVERYTHING on modern cars involves electricity.
Hi Fred,
Good strategy for showing both application and relevancy to your students. They can see the value in dollars and satisfaction they are acquiring to create a future for themselves.
Gary
