Postive reinforcement
I have a couple of students in my class that need constant positive reinforcement in order to be actively ingaged in class. What do you think is the best way to back off a little so they will still be involved?
Do you have a class participation grade? I have found that telling students that there class participation grade is in jeopardy may help (it's 10% in my courses. They often don't understand what 10% means, so I explain that it can lower their grade by a whole letter grade (for example from an A to a B). I also will make positive comments (great job last class or I really appreciated your exmple) when I'm handing back homework or tests.
Hi Joseph,
If you can have them share with the class some information or demonstration. I have found that if I can help the get success in a small way in the class this really moves them up on the motivation scale. Also, it is their own motivation so it is not coming just from me. This helps them become better at self motivation as the result of greater self confidence.
Gary
Hi Kathryn,
I use the same format with good results. I call them "professional points" same difference in terms of results that you get and I get. They become very important to the students and help greatly with attendance, timely submissions of assignments, discussions and group activities. Thanks for sharing your format with with us.
Gary
REASSURE THEM THAT THEY ARE DOING WELL
I have that type of grade added to the overall grade. Students knowing that tends to increase the motivation in becoming more active with the class as a whole.
One way I give positive reinforcement is during a critique of the students work, I try to start off with saying something nice. I talk about the best points and then I get further into where they can make changes and how to do it. I also start off with asking "How do you like your work?" as well as "What would you do different next time?". This opens up dialogue and helps them feel more confident.
That's the same thing I try to do. Many of my students in my survey/introduction course are taking the class only because it's an ancillary requirement for another program that has little to do with my field. They often feel that their other coursework hasn't prepared them for the terms of art, definitions, and the overall body of knowledge they need for the subject. Finding a way to sandwich the less positive aspects of their work in between discussions of things that show that the student has made the effort and gained mastery of something related to the topic pays great dividends in boosting the student's self esteem and motivation.
I adore the sound of this idea. Could you elaborate on how you implement these professional points?
Jennifer,
I make the amount of professional points such that they can be of real help to a student as they progress through the course. I talk about how they can earn the points throughout the course. I also post the professional points on BlackBoard so the students can see how many they have earned. At the beginning of class I will remind them that they need to become involved in class discussions, ask questions, give answers so they make sure they get their professional points. They work really hard to earn them because they see the value of having them awarded to them and their effort.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
