Motivating Students:

Rule 1: Emphasize the most critical concepts continuously. Include questions relating to these critical subjects on every exam, thus rewarding students for learning, retaining, and, hopefully, applying this knowledge in a variety of contexts.

Rule 2: Provide students with a “visual aid” when possible to explain abstract concepts. A significant proportion of today’s students are visual learners.

Rule 3: Rely on logic when applicable. Point out to students which information is merely “fact” that must be memorized and which course material is based upon “logic”. Show students how to employ logical thinking to learn and retain new information.

Rule 4: Use in-class activities to reinforce newly presented material. After a new concept or subject has been presented via text reading, lecture, or class discussion, allow the students to put the concept into action by completing an in-class assignment. If these in-class assignments are part of the course grading scheme, class attendance also improves.

Rule 5: Help students create a “link” when teaching something new. Examples of possible “links” include: prior materials learned in this course (e.g., the critical concepts describe in Rule 1), material learned in prerequisite courses, and “real-life” experiences of the students outside the classroom.

Rule 6: Recognize the importance of vocabulary in a course. Students often struggle with new vocabulary in many courses, especially introductory ones. To succeed in these courses, students must become comfortable with the new terminology.

Rule 7: Treat students with respect. Give students their dignity, and they will give you their best efforts.

Rule 8: Hold students to high standard. Maintaining high standards not only motivate student learning, but also be the source of student feeling of accomplishment when those standards are met.

Each of these rules can help motivate even the most lethargic student, but Rule 7 and 8 are the most important. If students are not treated with respect and held to a standard, scrupulously following the first six rules will have much less impact and might end up being an exercise in futility.

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