Motivation

I would love to say that I am the "Great Motivator" but I cannot honestly say that. In drafting I try to motivate my students by telling them about interesting buildings or jobs that I was able to work on during my career in engineering and architecture. But ultimately most are only concerned about how much that they can make an hour when they get out of school.

That bugs me to a point because I value an experience more than money. But that being said I do like being paid but ultimately it is more about the journey than the destination.

As far as motivating my students, I would honestly say it has been so-so in my 3 and a half years of teaching. I have the most success with 10th and 11th graders. I guess because they are more mature than freshmen and don't have senioritis like seniors.

What I try to do is get to know each of my students and find out what movies, music or hobbies that they like and try to put a drafting spin on it. I have several guitar players in my class so we are going to design a guitar maybe build it in the spring.

I guess what I try to do is get to know my students and assure them that I only have their best interest in mind. ANd hope they buy into what I'm doing.

After the break.....

This has been a refreshing break for me. I tried to spend the break recharging my batteries and laying out a game plan for the second semester. I think the one thing I need to change going into the second semester is that I need to quit being a player and be more of a coach. I tried to follow what my students were doing and try to teach from their perspective. That needs to change. I feel that has held back my classes progress. I would get hung up trying to do something and they would have to wait for me before we would move on.
What I'm going to implement when we go back is a short meeting with each team on the first day of class each week and determine goals for that week based on what needs to be covered.
I think I have a better grasp on what it is going to take to complete the games. I need to stay out of the way for the most part and set more precise goals, short term and long term. That being said, I hope my next blog is singing the praises of my new way of thinking.

Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not, but we will be judged by only one thing. the result.
Vince Lombardi

Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal.
Vince Lombardi