Use Technology to Motivate Distance Learning Students

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Use Technology toMotivate Distance Learning
Students
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Susan CoopermanMontgomery CollegeMaryland
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Describe Your Students

• Smart?
• Technology savvy?
• Lazy?
• Interested?

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Todays Students

• Technology oriented
• They grew up with
• Internet
• DVDs
• MP3s
• IPods
• High energy
• Tech savvy

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Students

• Grew up with a mouse
• Familiar with blogs

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Students need to be stimulated
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If Your Class is Boring
Students will be not be interested Students
will not be motivated
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Are You Ready to Motivate Your Students?
Does he look like one of your typical students?
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I asked my students what motivates them The
response I heard over and over again was The
Professor
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Student Comment Last Day of Class

• He told me that my enthusiasm and desire to help
  was truly evident
• He said my interest motivated him
• He said he was unhappy in another class
• The professor was abrupt
• The professor did not appear interested in
  students

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What motivates?

• Make the student feel important
• Show interest in the student
• Let the student know you are ready to help
• Let the student know that you really care

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Put yourself in your students shoes!
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Smile

• Put a smile on your face
• Add a pleasant comment to email
• Respond to a telephone call with a smile in your
  voice

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What does it cost you to be pleasant???
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What does it cost you to put a smile in your
email or voice mail message???
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What are the rewards???
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Be Available
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Motivational Ideas

• Email
• Telephone
• Text messaging
• Photos
• Cards
• Awards

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Feedback
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Let students know that they are not alone in
the distance learning course
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Let them know that you are eager and willing to
help!
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Use private email not discussion boards
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Telephone Welcome

• Welcome to class
• Call each student
• Leave message if not home
• Be enthusiastic
• Make the course sound exciting

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Email Welcome

• First day of class
• Send a welcome email to all students
• Second week of class
• Send a how are you doing email

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Sociable Approach

• Open or close all emails with a friendly comment
• How are you today?
• Have a good weekend!
• Enjoy todays pretty weather!

Be Friendly
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Do Not Wait for Student Questions

• Send email
• Do you have a question?
• Do you understand?

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Responding

• Students want and expect immediate feedback
• Respond to emails frequently
• Even on weekends and at night
• Quickly grade assignments
• Grade within two days

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Send Good News Email or Text Messages

• Congratulations on your test grade
• Congratulations on your project grade
• Good luck on the test
• Have a great weekend
• Enjoy the holiday

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Send Email Reminders

• Test dates
• Project due dates

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Contest

• Student of the Week Contest
• Winner announced on class Web site

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Communications

• Online chats
• Act like you care
• Be friendly
• Ask about what student did over the weekend
• Ask what other classes they are taking
• Ask what is students major

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Birthday

• Send free electronic birthday cards
• Ask student for birthday information
• For privacy reasons, ask for only birth month

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TGIF Award

• Candy gram
• Includes picture of candy

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Star of the Day or Week Award

• Notify the student by
• Email
• Greeting card
• Telephone
• Text message
• Put on Web Site

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Award

• ContestAnswer a question
• Encourages students to read emails
• Encourages active learning
• Student who responds first with correct answer
  receives five extra points

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Contest

• Design a class logo
• Share the winning logo with the class
• Put on web site

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Send Cards

• Have a happy day
• Have a fun weekend
• Happy holiday
• Halloween
• Thanksgiving
• Valentines Day

Best Wishes
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Cards

• Create in
• Microsoft Publisher
• Greeting card creation packages
• Word
• Email it
• Create a variety of cards and have them ready to
  use

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Contest

• Hint contest
• Weekly
• Put the winning hint on the Web site
• Improves student learning

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Individualize the Class

• Progress at your own pace
• Allows student to move quickly
• Finish class early

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Partners

• Online Help Buddy
• Online partner projects
• Online team projects

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Online Photo Album

• Have students send you pictures
• Have students write comments about the class
• Have students sign release prior to posting
  picture or comment

Permission Signature Date
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Link to Community Projects

• Museums
• Business leaders
• Companies

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Smithsonian Fellowship

• One-year experience
• Learn about how and why exhibits are created
• Meet with curators
• Explore the museums

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Smithsonian and Students

• Encourage students to explore their community
• Exposure to exhibits
• Exposure to new ideas
• Exposure to new cultures

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What is the Benefit to Your Students?
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Better Grades?
I got an A
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Podcasts

• Attract the attention of students
• Create a connection between the instructor and
  the student

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Student Podcasts

• Current students make Podcasts for future
  students
• Introduction to class
• How they solved difficult assignments or problems

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Podcast

• Instructions

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End of Semester

• Send a goodbye email
• Enjoyed having you in class
• Keep in touch with me

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What Happens at the End of the Semester???

• Encourage students to keep in touch with you by
  email
• Encourage students to send emails about their
  accomplishments
• Post comments on web site

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What Motivates Your Students?

• Share your ideas
• What works for you

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How can you motivate your students?
Ideas???
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Susan.Cooperman_at_montgomerycollege.edu
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Use Technology
Keep Students
Interested