Aaron Overton

Extrinsic motivators and intrinsic ones are both very useful tools in inspiring students to learn and engage with material. You have to find the right balance for each class and each student, so that the learning remains the reward, rather than anything else.

I believe giving students a level of autonomy can be really useful and instructive, particularly if they're already beginning to get a handle on the material. However, as I teach an early class in the program, giving too much autonomy before a concept has really "locked in" with the student can result in a lot of blank stares and wondering what to do. I think it depends on the student and the degree of autonomy you feel you can grant them.

Students feel supported when they understand what they're going into, and what's going to be addressed/learned in a given lesson or environment. I would apply this by setting the expectation both before the lesson itself in the materials the student will need to review before the lecture, and at the top of the lecture as well.

This module helped to remind me that adult students in particular really need to know the "why" we're learning something, and they carry their experiences into what they're learning.

Thinking outside the box is important in instruction, as it can be another way students can learn the material, and give students a new way of looking at things. It can make things memorable and more interesting to students.

You can intuit a lot from a way a student is conducting themselves, through their body language and what they're actually saying, through their reactions, and more. Being able to sense where a student's at mentally is crucial to developing strong instruction.

I've learned that displaying your passion for what you teach can be seriously helpful to each student, and taking the time to display that passion in a way students see can be very effective for their learning.

Patience is a virtue for a reason. As someone who teaches at the front of the program, where we get a lot of wild student stories and explanations, and where sometimes the student can approach us with attitude because they haven't picked up classroom etiquette yet, staying patient and working with them through whatever they're dealing with can help them immensely.