Motivation
As an instructor we are their personal coach to encourage students throughout their learning process. We need to be there in the good times, but most importantly when they are struggling.
In our school motivation is of primary importance. We will often have students unemployeed, having received many negative responses on employment opportunities. They are "beaten down", low self-esteem, and many times experiencing some form of depression. Without a strong motivation program, their learning ability and even the deisre to learn is severally inhibited. Most of the time they are just looking for someone that has positive things to say with enthusiasum and encouragement.
Robert,
So true. For many they are one step removed from giving up on life and their future. By being in school they have made a commitment that needs to be supported and encouraged. When we have students like this we can build on their identification with us as role models and help them to be forward focused.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
true, but keeping focus at the course.
So true. Many of the students will be "down" after a quiz they don't do well on. Be sure to go over what they got wrong so they understand it. One way to do this is to make comments on the quiz itself. Another way is to go over it in class. Another way is to allow the students to take the quiz again. In any case, keep the feeling they can succeed if they just persist.
Mark,
All good strategies for providing student feedback. This way the students know what they don't know and what they need to work on to improve. With targeted feedback you can be specific and give pointers about how they can enhance their success in the class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It is up to us as instructors to help each student realize their potential. Continually motivating the students, especially when they're struggling, can make the difference between success and failure.
Mark,
These are good strategies.
I know allowing a make-up of a test would be out of the question in my case, but if it's allowed that would be great.
What I do have is the benefit of several very motivated student success coaches (or tutors as we know them). If a student didn't do well on an exam, I will tell them to sign up for 1-on-1 time with one of the tutors, and let them know what a tremendous benefit it is to have these people here. I know not every school is this fortunate, but since we have them, I put them to good use. It makes the student feel like we are concerned about them and their success, and we follow up with both the student and the tutor. This has been very successful for us as a program.
We have students like this also. I have tried some of the methods listed here for motivation, some work, some don't.
Michael,
One of the challenges of teaching is finding motivational strategies that work with all types of students. Your point about some working and some not is a good example of this challenge. Dealing with human beings means that one method does not work for everyone. We need to be creative and strive to find a motivator for each student but that isn't possible in every situation sad to say.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Mark:
I try to always write comments/correct answers on the quiz as well. I feel like that give the student a tangible correction that they can look over later for improvement. I like to also go over it in class though.
As far as allowing students to take the quiz again, I have thought about this but it really concerns me. I feel like that is a quick way to be taken advantage of by less motivated students who think they don't have to study because they can just do it over later.
As instructors, how should we walk this line between trying to help and motivate and letting them take advantage of you?
