There are many things that can have a negative effect, such as a lack of academic skills, feedback they don’t accept or understand, a subject that’s too hard to understand or doesn’t seem to be relevant to their lives, or getting a grade they don’t think they should have. This leads to a decline in performance over time, which may not be noticed or even deliberate until an instructor addresses it.
5 Ways to Energize and Motivate Your Students Instructors may not always know exactly why students are having trouble, but most problems stem from students’ willingness to keep trying and work on their continued self-development, even if it means learning new skills or knowledge. A set of proactive instructional strategies that are supportive of students’ attempts and progress and encouraging in nature can be developed by teachers.
In both my own teaching practice and my work with faculty development as a coach for online faculty, I have used the following five approaches.
#1. Establish productive connections. Relationships with students are always important, regardless of whether the class is traditional or online. This should go without saying for any class. It can make it harder for them to feel comfortable asking for help when it’s needed, which can make the instructor aware of potential issues. However, cultivating this kind of relationship in a virtual setting is difficult, and a class that only lasts a few weeks may make it even more challenging.
An instructor’s attitude determines how a relationship begins and continues, as does their intention to be helpful and approachable. Students must be aware of their teachers’ concern for them.
#2. Control your communication carefully. Instructors must carefully cultivate all forms of communication with their students to ensure that the message’s intent is clear and the tone is not likely to be interpreted negatively.
Emotional responses or hasty responses should not be used when responding to a student, whether via email or classroom posting. This is critical because a single negative interaction can demotivate a student, and a series of negative interactions can cause a student to drop out of the class.
#3. Be accessible, present, and available. Students must be aware that their instructor is available to assist them at any time if they are to remain engaged in the class and perform to the best of their abilities. This does not necessitate that an instructor be available at all times or respond to inquiries as soon as they are posted; However, students must be able to rely on an established pattern.
Email, instant messaging, weekly office hours, sharing my phone number for times when students require immediate assistance, and posting a classroom questions thread have all been helpful to me. I am able to connect with students through this, which can be very motivating for them to know that I am accessible.
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