Improving student motivation is one of the most challenging tasks for vocational educators. It is also very likely the most important one.
How can vocational teachers push their students to take more initiative and responsibility for their studies? How is it possible to keep students active and motivated at places of work – particularly when it can be a challenge in a classroom? In short, how can a vocational teacher support their students better?
Fostering a good attitude and student motivation is not a simple process, and there are no easy solutions. This article looks at some ways vocational teachers can leverage their learning management system for tutoring.
Take individual needs into consideration
Individual study paths and personal competence development plans are nothing new in competency oriented pedagogy. However, creating individual study plans can be perceived rather as an obligatory chore than a useful tool. When done right, personal plans can foster student motivation.
When the study plan is well adjusted to the individual student’s background, experience, and interests, studying is more likely to be engaging. Relevant goals reduce unnecessary work, strengthen confidence, and increase the likelihood of graduating in time. Planning should consider not only individual strengths, but also limitations and possible problems.
Individual study paths and learning goals are a key component of student motivation. They allow students to concentrate on what is relevant just for them and what is most likely to facilitate their professional growth.
Engage with students as individuals
Meeting and engaging with students as individuals can be difficult when learning takes place at work or otherwise outside the classroom. Vocational teachers have less and less personal contact with their students.
The personal relationship between teachers and students is crucial for student motivation. The support, tutoring, and feedback the student receives are key elements for building professional competencies, self-confidence, and emotional growth.
When learning takes places outside the classroom, the learning management system constitutes a key component of communication. It is the first tool for providing feedback and following up on students. It reduces barriers to good tutoring and counseling when learning is decentralized. The teacher can monitor their students more easily and identify problems or need for support.
Create relevant study contents
“Is this going to be on the exam?”
Students are more likely motivated to complete their studies when the study contents are relevant for their interests and goals. That is why it is important for the teacher to emphasize how the concrete competencies being taught are relevant for professional growth. The students should be able to see how specific study modules relate to their degree and how they will apply their new skills.
Workseed has a visual user interface that makes monitoring studying easy and intuitive. Learning goals are visualized in a way that makes it easier for students to understand and monitor their own progress. The students get a clear picture of where they stand, as well as what remains to be learned.
When studying theoretical modules, their relevance for practical situations should be emphasized. A particular problem in vocational education is that theoretical courses are perceived as boring, because students struggle to understand how the information pertains to their future profession. Practical examples and case studies should be used for improved student motivation.
How Workseed makes tutoring better and builds student motivation
Workseed is a learning management system designed specifically for the needs of vocational education and training. It facilitates creating individualized study plans, provides teachers tools for better tutoring, and makes monitoring studies and identifying problems easier than ever – also contributing to improved student motivation.
Workseed provides teachers an extra pair of hands and allows for better allocation of resources for tutoring – particularly when students are learning in realistic environments.
In case you want to know more about how Workseed can provide value just in your organization, feel free to book a demo with our experts here. We can map your needs and suggest how to develop in your workflow that will save your time and improve your teaching.
