I have seen many times in the classroom that when the older a student is, the more likely it is that they doubt their abilities at first. However, it is also this student (who has usually been out of the academic environment the longest) that becomes the most independant and passion filled learners. It is a pleasure to work with these "non-traditional" students because of their ownership of their education and progress.

I am amazed at how well students respond to positive appreciation, like "great Job John" or "Thank-You for helping me with that project." Our students are craving positive feedback! Let's offer it to them.

Instructors should be reminded that sharing the students' background experiences, to the class topic, will enable them to become more engaged in class topics.

Talking to your students about your personal experience in the field, explaining how you became an instructor, learning new things about your career will open doors to your new career

Always keep your focus on your students and it is very important to value the opinions of your students.

In order to motivate students we need to create a fun environment and make the students to participate and develop activities and events.

respecting your students and understanding their needs, they will do better in school, if you support your students they will feel more confident about asking if they don't understand an assignment. You give respect to gain respect.

I think young students don't focus at school like adults. Young students don't take school seriously.

Positive reinforcement is always pro-active and produces positive results!

Building relationships (professional) with students is always interesting and never boring.

Just when you think you thought of everything, someone brings up a better idea on classroom control and educational learning!

Transference is the sum or result of all of our tireless efforts as teachers. Fruition, resolution, or moment of epiphany for each student is what motivates me to be a teacher! In my field, Surgical Technology, tranference MUST take place for our students to graduate; there is no gray area in the end of whether they understood their lessons or not. Their mental and physical expertise must be transparent in the end to succeed.

I teach Surgical Technolgy and I find it's easy to lose the attention of my students if I meander away from the topic even if it's only for a few minutes. I, the instructor, have to be as sharp as a tack to stay on task even though what I'm trying convey sometimes relies upon sharing my experiences to paint the picture to match my daily lecture material. "Sharing" can easily turn into an all out Q&A session if I don't hang on to my reins tightly. When my students get so excited and inquisitive is when losing focus takes place. It can difficult to draw the line between "sharing" and actual book lecture; both are so valuable.

There is an obvious definitive line between the values and needs of the younger and the "wise" (older) students. As their instructor who is 40, I often have to reach back into my memories to help me relate to my younger "kids", while at the same time I try to draw from my own elders' experiences to understand my older ones. Being 40 is a wonderful age to teach at this educational level as it makes it easy to be the bridge between both. I also find it very enjoyable being the "translator" in this interactive social scenario I refer to as "my class".

I have done instructors who lack passion& this exercise has brought this forward. I truly believe that passion is felt not taught & only a teacher can create this in the classroom . This is our opportunity to inspire, we have a moment everyday where we can tie the "why" into what we do. I can see differences in teachers who are animated & those who do this for a job & show up. Michelle Callaghan

motivating student is a key point maintain enjoyable learning environment.

implementing new ideas into the classroom environment will improve better understanding

setting the rules and regulations at the beginning of the classroom that will definately help mutual benefit for both parties, instructor as well as student.

I think the key to adult learner motivation is too make everything relevant to their field of work or the field of work they aspire too. If they see the usefulness of something you are teaching then the rest of the job is just helping them deal with their life situations so they can stay on track.

I have often wondered if small gifts or even food/candy could come across as condescending or insulting to the adult learner? My contention is that if we use these type of motivators, present it light heartedly, perhaps by saying "let's take a break and have some fun with food!" What do you guys think? I also wonder if what it says about a student if they are not intrinsically motivated? It seems to me that more successful students are intrinsically motivated? Chip