Motivating students...

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Permalink Reply by Stephanie Finnan on June 1, 2010 at 11:35am

I find the best way of motivating students is to conduct lectures including relevant real life case studies the students can relate to and gain inspiration from. The majority of students I work with are final year degree students, however for younger school age students, I conduct practical interactive workshops instead of Powerpoint lectures, focused on hands on learning.

Permalink Reply by Trish Winstead on August 26, 2010 at 11:19pm

I agree with Stephanie but I also add that students should be self-motivated, that is what our industry requires. I have been teaching college level fashion design, production, marketing, promotion, buying, retail, flat pattern, draping - 2 levels, computer aided apparel design, fashion history, and apparel product development for close to 30 years.

While my enthusiasm may motivate the students, I do not do anything in particular to encourage them to work other than giving them TONS of work and expecting them to do an amazing professional job at it. So far, so good. Many other college professors ask time and again, "How do you get you students to do all that work you lay out?" My answer, "I assign it." End of story. Motivation is an internal thing. Don't try to motivate them - industry will thank you. The lazy will fall away and only the best will remain to go job hunting after graduation. Trish

Permalink Reply by Gerald J. Sherman on August 27, 2010 at 9:28am

Interesting! But, what a thrill it is to encourage a student to excel...I call it motivation!