Learn what drives your students. Students want to learn material that will help them reach the goals that they've set. Be a motivating instructor. Find what kind of positive reinforcement your students respond to and go with it. Retention is important, and finding ways to help your students retain the information provided will help them transfer what they know to the field. Never ridicule a student or be combative with their answers, questions, or comments. Students that begin to feel unable to speak without being ridiculed will shut down and rarely do well in the class.