Motivational Teaching
When teaching, I think it is important to imbue a sense of almost obsession with the topic as an instructor. I teach literature and love books to death, but a criminal justice student might not think the same way. If I can get that student to understand in a small sense how I feel, we start to meet at a crossroads. This is how I get students motivated. They see my motivation to learn more and they follow.
Zane,
I like your understanding of the value and application of your content in relation to those that might not have the same interest. Your passion for books and learning rubs off on the students even those that are only taking the course to complete a requirement. When one of them gets fired up about literature then you have a great "ah-ha" moment that makes all your work worth it.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree with the statement you made about "obsession." I teach math and science to students, and they are often blown away by how much I actually enjoy the subjects. They are often surprised, because they falsely believe that math is not a fun or exciting subject. I explain to them that the subject material can be fun if you immerse yourself in the ideas. Students are motivated by instructors who love what they do.
I think sometimes the students have never experienced someone who thinks and feels very differently from them. They think everybody is like them, and so when they see somebody who is very genuine, and yet genuinely excited about different things than they are, that is an "ah ha" moment. When they see somebody genuinely excited about, say, classical music, they get the fact that maybe it just be worth getting excited about. At least one person is very excited about it, even if I am not. It expands their universe just a little bit. Likewise, if a student has a tendency to be excited about the subject, seeing someone else who is passionate about it reinforces their faith in their own tendencies.
Benjamin,
Your last sentence really tells it all. Yes, they are motivated by the enthusiasm and passion of their instructor to share subject matter especially subject matter that they may not feel the most comfortable with. You are making learning possible through real life examples and applications and before they know it they are enjoying learning a subject that previously had been feared.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Mark,
Thank you for these excellent comments about how students impact each other and expand their thinking when in classes. A part of getting an education is developing the ability to do critical thinking and take in new information. The results of this is a person that understands how he/she fits into the career that has been chosen.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
