SHORT-TERM MOTIVATION TECHNIQUES FOR TUTORS

These techniques can be used during a teaching session to keep your students motivated and help them to focus and concentrate.

State Clear Objectives

At the beginning of a session it is usually helpful to clearly state what you expect your students to learn.

It is much easier for students to keep going if they are aiming to ‘explain why A wrote a letter to B’ rather than to ‘examine the deepening relationship between A and B'.
State Clear Timings

It is also useful to tell your students how long a particular exercise or part of the class is likely to last.

If your students know that you will be starting a practical session at half past the hour, they are less likely to waste time wondering what the equipment at the front is for.
Vary your Lessons

If you always follow the same routine of talking through a topic and then making students answer a question sheet individually, they'll get bored.

However, if, for example, you can show your class a relevant short film and then get them to brainstorm their ideas in groups to put on a poster, they will use different skills and learning approaches. Experiment with different modes of teaching and discover what works best for your group.
Use Learning Incentives (Bribery!)

Use a ‘carrot and stick’ approach.

Telling your students that they can play a learning game at the end of the lesson if they have done the necessary written work can help to keep them on task.

Learning incentives can be particularly powerful for subject areas which are difficult for the students to relate to. Answer their question: 'Why do I need to lean this?'
Assess Their Learning

Warning your students that there will be a quick spot test at the end of the session or the start of the next one, may help to ensure that they listen to you.

A quick test of ten basic questions can tell you a great deal about their level of engagement, and the praise that you offer to the best scores will be encouraging.