Striving for Solutions
What activities can an instructor do to improve overall class morale?
Sometimes we use a "buddy" system where they must pick a partner to "teach" the information to. Also we have implemented honor students and they are used to tutor other students. That has increased our student satisfaction quite a bit. Using fun games for review, active listening is also a key component of class morale. It may sound very tedious to us as instructors but it may be extremely important to the students.
Hi Lisa,
The idea of using a buddy system is very clever. Sometimes students tend to pick up the concepts easily from their peers versus the instructor. At my institution, we have implemented a peer tutor program that consists of top students to help other students that are struggling. The peer tutor system works beautifully. In certain courses, I use fun games for review, and I also have review teams for test reviews as well.
Patricia
Hi Scott,
To improve overall class morale, I have allowed my students to inform me the goods and bads of the course and to indicate how we can make the course even better. At the end of certain courses, I have a private conversation with students about their opinions of the class. I have also allowed students to evaluate the course unoffically using the official course evaluation form. We have had question-answer sessions about the course as well, but you must fully control the session and not let things get out of hand.
Patricia
Class participation has always worked for me.
Hi Karla,
How has class participation worked for you? Have you ever experienced where class participation did not work? You need to elaborate in your responses.
Patricia
Respecting each student...calling on the student by name shows that the instructor is interested in both the student as an individual and their academic progress. I make it a requirement of myself to use names on the first day...I review my roster prior to the first class, that way I already no the names...I just have to put faces to them now.
Hi James,
Students love it when you know their name. I make it a point to learn all of my students' names on the first day, it does not matter how big or small the class is. I have noticed by learning their names on the first class meeting impresses the students, and they like it. It seems as though we begin to bond on Day 1. I must learn my students' names because I call on students all the time during class to participate.
Patricia
I struggle with learning my students names. What are some techniques that can be utilized to assist with this? Should I use a seating chart?
Hello Samuel,
I am one of the best for learning students' names. I look at the student's face for about 25 seconds, and I say the student's name silently about 10 times. Within minutes of Day 1, I have memorized all names. It amazes my new students, and I can tell very quickly they love me knowing their names.
Patricia
To improve morale: My background (which is 16 years as a tech of exactly what I'm teaching),student intro's to me, letting them know I care about them, I use place cards to quickly memorize student names, if a student struggles, I automatically tutor them, without even waiting for them to ask, and I assure them, that if they show up every day, take notes, read carefully, and participate fully in lab, that I can almost insure their success in my class. I've sat in other instructors classes, who introduce class with, "we have a 40% failure rate in this course", and it urks me to no end the bad motivation that is. The old school teachers think they can "scare" the students into trying harder. I do nothing but encourage and motivate my students, even when they're wrong, I approach my response, in words, very carefully. "That was close, but not exactly what we're looking for", or "that could also be true in a different situation, i.e.,i.e.," I never just tell them they're wrong without careful explanation. Alot of times, I get the students who keeps saying "I'm dumb" or "I'm stupid", and I always insist they're not stupid, they just need a little more education, anyone can learn.
Place cards are obvious, but at least they show you make an effort. With place cards, it usually takes me 3 to 4 days to memorize 20 students names. Other instructors I work with use a seating chart.
Hi Joseph,
As an instructor, we need to make every effort to learn our students' names. The seating charts method is probably the most popular method to help an instructor memorize students' names. I am one of the best for learning students' names. I look at the student's face for about 25 seconds, and I say the student's name silently about 10 times. Within minutes of Day 1, I have memorized all names. It amazes my new students, and I can tell very quickly they love me knowing their names.
Patricia
Hello Joseph,
I love to share this moto with educators, "A student doesn't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." As educators, we need to continue to motivate and encourage our students, and we need to do just as you do, tell them what they need to do in the class to be successful. I like the verbage you use even when your students are incorrect. We need more caring educators like you.
Patricia
I have food days or open discussion days built in to help lighten stressful and difficult classes
Hello Kristin,
Tell me about your food days. How do you feel food days decrease stressful and difficult classes? What else do you do to strive for solutions?
Patricia
We also use student feedback as a means to improve the course for the next student. We have our standardized college critique forms that the students fill out each phase but more importantly I give the students a chance to discuss with me the course content and to offer suggestions of how we might make it better. A student can always take satisfaction in knowing that they have some imput into their education process.
Hello Joni,
We call our forms Evaluation Forms. The Evaluation Forms can be a very effective tool for making the education process better. Students love to know that their input does matter. I have used the forms to determine which instructor is better at teaching one course versus another, to determine if instructors are doing what they should be doing, to improve the curriculum, etc.
Patricia
I recently have used the technique of having them break up into discussion groups of 4 or more students to discuss the assigned readings amoung themselves and come up with at least 4 questions from the readings to make certain that they are understanding the material -- AND ALSO TO FEEL AS THOUGH THEY ARE GETTING THEIR MONEY'S WORTH FROM HAVING BOUGHT THAT EXPENSIVE TEXTBOOK! Some students complain that the instructor hardly ever opens the textbook and that is wrong. When the 'four questions from each group' are asked, lively classroom discourse often follows. The students get to voice their opinions and I sometimes help to ferret out the 'quiet ones' and gently urge them to open up. This way, all students learn that each of their voices are important in the classroom and that I care what they are thinking and feeling. I am less and less inclined to let 'alpha students' dominate a classroom discussion. I smile and say, for example, "We've heard from you plenty, Rachel, and yes, you have great input; now, let's hear from Michael in the back row." If Michael doesn't want to open up, for whatever reason, I quickly say something like, "Okay! Now, Mary, what do you think?" if I see another student's eager face or raised hand, besides Rachel's.
Hi Anne,
What a great way to have students utilize an expensive book. Students do get upset when they have paid good money for a book, and the book is barely used. I also like how you handle your alpha students and quiet students. As an experienced instructor, your alpha students will take over, if you allow them to.
Patricia
