I have found when you allow students to share their life experiences with you they feel more respected and in turn are motivated to do well in the course. I believe it is very important to treat each student as the unique individual they are and capitalize on their strengths.

I have found when allowing students to share some of their personal struggles helps them to stay focused more on the material, becuase they feel as if they are really cared about and respected as a person.

At the end of each course, I write a motivating statement or email letting my students know what I expect of them, how proud I am of them and how it is out there in the field. How does this motivate them? It gives them the sense that I care for each and everyone of them and I do. It shows that if I can do it, so can they.

Sometimes when you have to refocus your class, it si best to slow down. listen or "read" your class and then ask questions. By asking questions, you can see what path you need to go down to refocus the class or get them reengaged. How do you learn from this? It helps the instructor create a better understanding of how the student is receiving the subject manner.

When making or creating assignments for students, include what they like or the time of year into the assignment. When creating a business plan in my class, it was near Halloween, so we created a business plan to operate a haunted house. The students took ownership of each role in the business. How do you keep them going? As the students specifics about their views on different topics.

It is important to let your older students know that they can learn just as the others do and have the same type of advantage that everyone else does. How can you make them feel less scared? Include them in discussions or ask them specific questions they know the answers to.

We cannot motivate students if we are not motivated ourleves. Walking into a classroom and expecting the student to have high energy and be eager to learn is unfair if we do not exude it as instructors. We have to be prepared to leave all distractions outside the classroom and provide a motivating and positive expereince for our students.

Giving students their weekly grades and where they are in the quarter is a great way to motivate my students to continue to strive to do their best

Surprisingly, I have had only a few adult learners in my classes over the years. Most of my students are between the ages of 18 – 25. I can also recall that each of those adult learners was a challenge to teach in some way. One in particular was indeed full of self-doubt and was typically despondent every time he entered the class. I always made an attempt to engage him in one-on-one conversation as he always arrived early to class. As much as I tried I could not find a “kink in the armor”. Then this particular design class had a group project. I intentionally paired him up with the brightest, most talented student in the class. Amazingly, this troubled adult learner came out of his shell and presented skills to his group that I had no idea he had. It turns out all he needed was team interaction. His work experience was anchored in that so he needed that dynamic to function comfortably in the classroom. I think that experience then gave him the confidence he needed to do well in individual work. He needed that validation by his younger peers, but he also needed the proper venue to make that happen.

I have found many of my adult students will make reference to the fact that it has been years since they were in school. I always encourage them by stating it is never to late to learn we learn everyday. I also let them know their life knowledge can really add to the course, therefore encouraging participation.

You've just got to love "Required Courses"! Those courses that are mandated by various accrediting bodies - the classes where students become glassy-eyed five minutes into the lecture. I find teaching these classes to be challenges and know that I have succeeded when students will change their schedules just to sit in my classes. It becomes a win-win situation for both of us - both fulfuilling as an instructor and motivating for the students.

I try to stay focused in my daily routine and often try to put myself in the shoes of my students. So many of them have issues outside of school that affect their education! I feel very fortunate that I have not had to face some of their challenges - health issues, transportation problems, homelessness, etc.

Every orientation it's interesting to see if you can "read" a student's passion for education and going to school. Students who think that orientation is a waste of their time, etc. Sometimes it's no surprise that these same students withdraw from school and also on the other side, when they are begging to re-enter because they made a mistake and release the value of education and what they threw awa.

I'm reminded of my own high school and college educational experiences: in both cases I was unmotivated during my first courses and then became VERY competitive in my classes and trying to achieve all "A's". As a lifelong learner, every time I would enroll for an additional degree my husband would always make a comment about my rabid competitive nature and that I wasn't always a dream to live with during this time. Just imagine - education was turning me into a Jekyll and Hyde - hard to believe!

I find that students relate to me as an advisor when I treat them as adults. I've heard others use the term "kid" and feel that this is demeaning and disrespectful even if the student is young and just graduated from high school.

Sometimes I need motivation to continue myself! I received when a student text me saying you are a cool Professor

Definately a different type of learner wnats to get in and get out ASAP!

I feel that hands on experience is a great tool for students to really be able to comprehend the material they are trying to learn. For me, as a student, this was one of the best ways for me to make things stick in my brain.

As a student it was very helpful to not only read and hear lecture on material, but hands on experience worked extemely well for me when it came to retention of the material.

I like the idea of incorporating difft teaching strategies to break up the monotony of the same old grind. I feel that this could also lead to increase in ability to retain info.