How do you keep students motivated in your classes? I know I've seen some fabulous lessons on DVD and in person from each of you. Please share your favorite ideas and introductions to lessons. See article link for further ideas. See you Wednesday, April 1st at my house, 5 p.m.
http://712educators.about.com/cs/motivation/a/motivation.htm?nl=1
4 comments:
I try to keep students motivated (even though it may be hard sometimes) by trying to relate what I am teaching to their lives. I ask them for examples or stories from their lives. I think that by doing this they are able to see how this information may be more important to them then they may think. My students love to tell stories so I quickly caught onto this and use it as a way to get them motivated! I mean...why not? See you all Wednesday!!!!
ya i would definitely agree w/ lauren...i am constantly asking students if they have personal experiences with whatever it is i may be teaching at the time. they love to share their experiences, so it works pretty well. additionally, having extra credit opportunities, like taking the simulation babies home, for example, or using the babies in class when demonstrating a certain technique is something they love. i try to be very interactive with the types of lessons i plan, because the more my students get to do it themselves, the more they enjoy that particular lesson. also we have job shadow opportunities for the beginning level classes, where they can go spend the day at a nearby preschool, and we decided that it will be based on class behavior and their grade in the class (mainly how on time/responsible they've been with handing in hwk), if they are allowed to participate, and that is an incentive for those that really want to do it.
it was so great seeing all of you last night and catching up!
nick- quick question i forgot to ask you yesterday...mary ellen wanted me to ask you- do you guys use a particular company for paper (disposable) place mats? we have a kitchen here, and we do a little bit of cooking w/ the kids, as well as an annual luncheon, and she ran out, and we can't find them anywhere...do you use them at all? if not, would you know where to get them?
I also do what Lauren mentioned. I relate concepts to real life and how they could use them as well as how an actual designer would use the concept in their day to day job.
I also motivate students by teaching many hands on lessons that allow students to move around as well as think outside the box. It is when a student asks a very relevant question during a lesson in which they have to use their critical thinking skills that you know they are participating and want to know more. It is also when a student asks a question that the teacher may not have prepared for because it is above and beyond what is being taught. I can definitely say this has happened in my class quite a few times.
Students are also motivated in the moment of a particular topic, which is situational interest, or they are just motivated because they are internally (intrinsic motivation) interested by the elective you teach. I’ve had many students say that interior design is one of their favorite classes. It makes you feel appreciated and good but then you have the few students you wonder if they are just saying they like their class just to say it.
Ah, Breanna!! They like it because of the subject matter and how YOU teach it!! Enjoy the compliment.
These are the "ups" in teaching that we all work so hard for!
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