Motivating Students to Excel

* Establish high and reachable standards of excellence and provide the time and resources to help your students reach the standards you set.

* Be clear about your expectations by telling your students, having this in writing in the syllabus and on your website, and providing sample/models of work that meets the standards you expect. Use rubrics

* Give your students frequent opportunities to provide evidence through small, weekly assignments that demonstrate their understanding, problem-solving ability, writing skills, etc. The assignments don’t need to be graded. They can contribute to a portion of the grade assigned as participation. They can be short online quizzes through Blackboard’s survey feature or half page response papers, paraphrases of key concepts and examples that illustrate understanding of the concept. Consider letting students work in pairs or small groups on these assignments. This can result in some excellent peer teaching.

*The feedback on these small assignments doesn't necessarily have to be individual. You can give general feedback at the beginning of class or through a group email. For example—"I've been noticing a few common mistakes that people are making and want to give you some tips on how to avoid them in the future." Or, “Based on Tuesday’s response paper I want to clear up some confusion on the difference between ___________ and _____________.”

* Design weekly (and less grade-damaging) assignments in formats similar to what they can expect in other more important assessments (formal papers, midterms, finals). Have these assignments demonstrate the level of critical thinking you expect in student responses to questions and problems and short answer identifications.

* These smaller, frequent, and less threatening assignments keep students accountable for staying current in the course. They allow you and your students to gauge progress in understanding. They prepare students for the level of rigor in your benchmark assessments.

* As often as possible relate the course material to something which is meaningful for your students, something to which they can relate. Use metaphors and analogies that help anchor important concepts for them.