Get Your Students Hired
If an instructor is enthusiastic about the class and class material it will reflect in a positive manner to the students. Instructors who are engaged, excited and passionate will make the class fun and interesting for the students, thus they will want to be there and get the most out of the classroom experience.
Tom,
Your last sentence says a lot about what we have to do as instructors. I like you love my field and can't imagine that everyone else doesn't love it as much as I do but the facts are they don't. So it is a selling job to get them to value the content that is being shared so they can move closer to their career goals and realize that this course is just one of the steps.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Dawn,
The three words you use to describe how you share course content are right on in terms of helping students to stay engaged in the course. When you show compassion, introduce humor and are enthusiastic you have created the formula for learning success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
IF the instructor isn't enthusiastic about their field students may start to think that it was a bad choice and may drop. Some instructors don't understand that their behavior is so important to these students.
I am very passionate and enthusiastic about my subject and that comes out in every class but when I started out I sometimes had trouble connecting with students who didn't share that enthusiasm and asked themselves "if I'm not crazy about this subject the way he is then maybe I'm in the wrong class." I had to accept that some people will never love my subject as much as I do, and then learn to spot those students and convince them that they could learn from me even if they would never share my enthusiasm.
I teach one of the very first classes a student will experience in our college, which has the potential to set the tone for their entire program. My approach to teaching this particular course is a mix of enthusiasm, compassion, and humor. I also ensure students understand that no matter what, at any time during their journey with us, they can always come to me with questions, guidance, or help, even if it's months or a year from our class time.
Michael,
Passion for one's field and enthusiasm for teaching about it are two essential elements needed for teaching/learning success. As you know from your experience when both of these are present then excitement follows with the students. They enjoy being around a learning leader that cares them and how they are growing in their knowledge and skills.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
An instructor's enthusiasm greatly impacts student retention. If the student can feel that their instructor is emotionally committed to the material and their learning – they will pay more attention, retain more of the material and enjoy the course. If the instructor appears apathetic or disinterested in the material the students will very shortly adopt his perspective.
Especially with adult students - if the instructor cannot convey an enthusiasm for the material – the adult students will very quickly tune him out.
CHRISTOPHER,
You got that right and we need to bring both each time we step into a teaching situation.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
GORDON,
Good point because this is how we are able to engage and keep the interest of our students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Its job #1 to show passion and enthusiasm as an instructor. It helps students believe in themselves and is reassuring to the process.
I agree 100%, to bring a fun atmosphere in the class we as instructors must also be entertainers. Also in being entertainers it brings a personal tone to the students that you are a person to.
Angela,
Passion for your field and enthusiasm for teaching about it goes a long way in peaking the excitement of students. We need to bring both elements to class each time we meet with students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As an instructor, if you are enthusiastic and care about the material, there is a greater chance that your students will.
Lorin,
I agree and this is why we need to bring our A game to class each time it meets. We need to be a role model for learning so our students will see the value of what we are teaching.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think being an enthusiastic instructor really transfers to the students. If you are passionate about a subject then you can help to create a more interesting and exciting environment for the student.
Robert,
So true. Passion for one's field and enthusiasm for teaching about it generates student interest and excitement. We need to bring both each time we interact with students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
One of the key elements to student retention is the enthusiasm of the instructor. If an instructor is not excited about the subject and does not guide the students to deeper levels of understanding of the material then these actions convey negative messaging to the students. This type of behavior presents to the students that the career they have chosen might not be worth the hard work and financial strain that they are currently under thus potentially causing the students to lose interest and withdraw from the University. Whereas, if an instructor is positive and excited about the material, the student will also become excited and want to gain a deeper understanding of the material in order to have greater success in their chosen career path.
Teresa,
Congratulations for the impact you are having on the lives of your students. You are seeing the results of you bringing passion for your field and enthusiasm for teaching about it to the classroom. You are a model that your students can follow and they can put their confidence in you as their learning leader.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
If instructors are enthusiastic about there subject it will create a classroom not only conducive to learning but fun and engaging. If an instructor is "just doing his job" that will translate in class and given an opportunity with all the distractions students face outside of class it is much easier to choose those instead of class. As a new instructor myself I have noticed my students attendance has improved steadily since I began teaching. I thought it was coincidence but I now feel it is related to my confidence and therefor my enthusiasm. As it has increased so has my retention and attendance.