Get Your Students Hired
Instructor enthusiasm influences student retention because it shows that the instructor feels that the information he/she is discussing is important and relevant. Enthusiasm also demonstrates to the students that the instructor respects them enough to be well prepared, and to use "real life" examples of how the content applies to their chosen profession. Students are more likely to recall an enthusiastic presentation and to lose interest in a lifeless one.
Robert,
Sounds like me. Like the way you use the talent you have. You are being yourself yet getting your message across and engaging your students. This is a win win for everyone. Keep up the good work.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Yes, couldn't agree more with your comment. I really can't tell a joke or carry a tune, so I throw in "left-field" trivia facts and try to portion out relevant "war stories" to illustrate the importance of a particular point.
When all else fails, a smattering of instructor's self-deprecating humor, when appropriate, can help ease student apprehension over how they may function in a similar situation.
Enthusiasm for the subject matter is important but also important is enthusiasm for being where the instructor IS, with the students, People know when they are not wanted and students are no different, if you as the instructor would rather be somewhere else then the students will feel that way also.
Keondra,
Enthusiasm is catching as you know so this is why we need to bring it each time the class meets. The more excited about the content we are the more engaged our students are going to be.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think instructor enthusiasm has a strong influence on student retention. If an instructor is slouched, unkempt, and monotone during the lecture or classes; the students will feel this and thus decrease their enthusiasm for the course and may even drop the course if they get bored or feel that the instructor is incompetent about the subject matter. If an instructor is alert, infectiously cheerful, and neat looking, the students are more likely to participate in the class and look upon that teacher with admiration and exemplify the traits more readily. Students actually enjoy showing up to classes where the instructors are enthusiastic about the learning content. That in itself increases student retention.
Benjamin,
Your reference to Ben Stein made me laugh because he has been used as an example of a very boring teacher for many years. In fact I have had several instructors much like him. Your point is a good one in that we need to keep our content interesting and our delivery engaging if we expect to keep the interest of our students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
If you simply go through the motions as an instructor, the students will recognize this. There is nothing worse than having an instructor who teaches like the economics instructor in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. It is very important to show investment in your chosen field as the students need to believe in their instructor.
I think instructor enthusiasm is crucial to a students learning or not. If the instructor is not feeling the information that is being presented the student (who may be interested) will lose focus.
I find that all students, regardless of their age, want to add some tid bit of knowledge, of their own discovery, to the class.
I love to give acknowledgement and credit to a student who can add to my knowlegde. I get excited when they can stump me and they know it. They then feel challenged and engaged in the search for that new information which I don't know, in turn building their enthusiasm, confidence and ultimately their retention level for the class material.
Has anyone else experience this?
The instructor sets the stage for how the class will accept the information that is being taught. Instructors must be engaged and excited about any topic that they are teaching,students feed off of the enthusiasm of the instructor. If the instructor is unhappy, bored, hates the topic they are teaching the students will see it and feel them same way about the class. Once you have lost the students attention then the student will not feel the need to keep coming to the class.
James,
Thanks for the reference to the "Dry Eyes" guy, Ben Stein. His performance is such a classic that he is referenced often even today when it comes to being the "death by teacher" guy. At least he gave us a role model of what not to do and for that we can say "thank you".
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Danielle,
Enthusiasm is catching so we need to bring it to class each time and help our students to see our passion for our field and the excitement we have about teaching it.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Instructor enthusiasm has a huge impact on how the overall class functions. If an instructor mirrors the "Dry Eyes" Guy from the 90's no one will be paying attention. Grades will be low. But if an instructor has a true passion for the material that the teach, it will catch on with the students. Their interest levels will be higher and their work will be better.
I guess if we put entertainment before content i would agree with you however mixing in some fun with some content is a proper recipe.
You know the song, "a little bit of sugar makes the medicine go down".
Instructor enthusiasm brings relevance and leadership to the course material. Enthusiasm also shows that the instructor is joyful about sharing and giving of his/herself. With enthusiasm comes a feeling of personal relevancy that is often "catchy" and helps students to be more engaged.
In teaching a career development class, mostly about being positive, etc. I begin each class with a song that reflects the lesson for the day. On the first day I played Happy and the reaction I received from the students was varied. It was the first day and they didn't see the relevance at first. However, I explained and asked for requests for future songs. They became engaged and gave me many good selections.
I am still rather new to teaching but within my short time, I have noticed when I am excited students want in too. They want to share the passion and fun. Also, I personally can say that I enjoy learning from an enthusiastic instructor. Attitude helps keep me more enaged and focused