Category: Teaching

Who motivates you?

On By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn motivation, psychology, Psychology Class, Purpose and Meaning, Student Motivation, Student Success, Teaching25 Comments

Students, past and present, motivate me!

“The future of the world is in my classroom today.”

One of my first year BScN nursing students (Mona on the right) asked if I would sign the psychology textbook that I co-wrote and take a photo with her after class this week.

She said that an encouraging note and a picture with her professor would give her the motivation she needed to stay focused, work hard, and study throughout the semester.

Of course I said yes! It was a full circle moment. For my students are my motivation. And everything I do is with their success in mind.

Also pictured above are Sarah Ryrie (on the left) and Justin Fox (in the middle) – two St. Clair College alumni and former student representative council presidents who continue to inspire me today!

Related Post: Staying motivated in the midst of a challenge.

Your Turn: Who motivates you?

What’s the best thing that happened to you today?

On By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Mental Health, Positive Psychology, Psychology Class, Student Engagement, Student Motivation, Student Success, Teaching, Thriving42 Comments

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Shifting students positive.

So many students come to class anxious and stressed out. The last thing on their minds is learning. Which is why I start each class by asking students what’s the best thing that’s happened to them today.

Reflection ◊ Connection ◊ Motivation

Their answers fascinate me. And give me insight into what motivates them. From simple to profound. From food to relationships. From money to purpose. From grades to destiny. And everything in between.

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Less stress. More learning.

Interacting with students in fun and uplifting ways brings laughter and lightness to the classroom. It doesn’t take a lot of time. Yet it creates a significant shift in student stress and comfort levels.

Students need to feel safe. Students need to feel heard. Showing them you care (while having fun) works every time. Only then can the real learning begin!

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 Shifting students from stress to empowerment.

One question. One conversation. One class. At a time.🍎

Would you rather be liked or respected?

On By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Emotional Awareness, Intrinsic Motivation, motivation, Optimal Performance, Psychology Class, Purpose and Meaning, Self Actualization, Student Engagement, Teaching60 Comments

Liked vs. Respected

This question came to mind last week when I took over a college class halfway through the semester.

I know how tough it is for students to have 2 professors over the course of a 12 week semester. 2 sets of rules. 2 sets of expectations.

So it’s more important than ever that I play my “first impression” card right.

Students are more likely to “test the limits with the “new teacher”. Accordingly, I use a more strict than usual demeanour at the start of summer semester.

It usually works well. As my tough love approach becomes more on the love side, and less on the tough side as the weeks roll by.

However, this time I knew my first class authoritarian approach was not going to work.

Suddenly I had my hands full right off the bat. One of my students was not impressed in any way.

After laying down the law, the student looked up at me and said: “I’m not going to like you very much.”

And I said: “Good, because I’m not here to be liked, I’m here to teach you something.”

The student loudly responded: “Good, because I just learned something!”

To this day I am grateful for how much this student underscored my purpose in the classroom. 

I am not here to be liked. I am here to teach psychology.

A life lesson in self-worth that applies to us all.

“Self-worth comes from one thing – thinking that you are worthy.”

Enthusiasm is contagious.

On By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Attention, Inspiration, motivation, Psychology Class, Public Speaking, Purpose and Meaning, Student Engagement, Student Motivation, Student Success, Teaching25 Comments
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Photo from keynote at a College Student Alliance (CSA) student leadership conference.

I believe in the power of education. Deep down in my soul. And it’s this core belief that translates into a high level of enthusiasm and excitement for student success in my classroom.

I believe so strongly in the impact of enthusiasm on motivating students, capturing their attention, and enhancing their learning that I wrote my PhD dissertation on the topic.

Education + Enthusiasm = Student Success

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What core beliefs guide your work? Your life? 💫

Students First.

On By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn empowerment, Flow, Humanistic Psychology, motivation, Personal Growth, Psychology Class, Purpose and Meaning, Self Actualization, Student Engagement, Student Success, Teaching, Thriving30 Comments

I love writing about psychology as much as I love teaching about psychology. And that’s a lot!

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Psychology is my passion.

Students are my purpose.

Which is why I take every opportunity I have to support and encourage student success and development.

At the end of the day, I have one priority:

Students First.

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Your Turn:

1. What are you most excited about in your life right now?

2. How do you make your passion and purpose a daily priority?

Hold the vision. Trust the process.

On By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn psychology, Psychology Class, Purpose and Meaning, Self Actualization, Strengths, Student Engagement, Student Motivation, Student Success, Teaching, Thriving, Transformative Change13 Comments

Create a vision for your life that makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning.

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This “Why Vision Board” was created by my psychology students this past September.

Why Vision Boards in the classroom.

At the beginning of the semester, I ask my nursing students to share their reasons “why” they wanted to become a nurse. Why this program?

This simple question gives students insight into what motivates them. Something I consciously tap into throughout the school year.

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Students are enthusiastic about learning at the start of  the semester. New textbooks. Colourful notebooks. Dreams still fresh in their minds.

Illuminating lifelong dreams has the most impact midway through the school term.

This is when students truly need a boost in motivation (right about now). This is the time where I insert their original “Why” vision board into my PowerPoint lecture slides.

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 “Why Vision Board” created by a different group of students.

Halfway through the semester, students are surprised to see a photo of their own words, projected onto the big screen.

They are instantly drawn back into their reason “Why”.

An animated discussion ensues where students compare their initial motivations with their current state of mind and affairs.

Rekindling their dreams. Giving them a much needed reminder as to why they picked their program in the first place

What’s changed? What’s stayed the same. And why?

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“Why Vision Board” in action!

Ultimately, their “why vision board” transports them to a higher place, well above the stresses of their exams, to a place where all their dreams began.

Boosting their motivation. Lifting them up. Multiplying their energy.

A simple why? question that works. Every single time.

Reminding them why their dreams matter.

Why school matters. Why they matter.

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Reignite instrinsic motivation in one simple step: Ask yourself “Why?” you do what you do. Every chance you get!

Related Post: What's your why?

Summer school.

On By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Gratitude, Health Psychology, Hope, psychology, Psychology Class, Student Engagement, Student Motivation, Student Success, Teaching6 Comments

Bittersweet Ending

The end of a college semester is always bittersweet.

Summer school is no different.

The final psychology exam was just this week.

And I miss my summer students already.

Full disclosure: Psychology is my passion.

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A glimpse of my summer lecture on mindfulness, health psychology, and patient care. 

Pre-Nursing Psychology

I am grateful to have met so many wonderful St. Clair College students in the pre-nursing program this summer.

They worked hard. Followed their heart. And never gave up.

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Each student hoping to gain admission into the highly competitive four year BScN program starting in September.

(Summer school is a pre-nursing qualification program.)

New Beginning

Every ending is a new beginning.

Because of the program I teach in, I will have the opportunity to teach many of my pre-nursing students again this fall in the BScN nursing program.

Fingers crossed that they (all) get in to nursing! 🏥💉

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Just because the semester ends doesn’t mean the learning ends.  I am, and will always be, my students’ “Professor for Life“. 📚❤️
Related Post: What's your why?

What side of the brain do you live on?

On By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Teaching10 Comments

rightleftMy stroke of insight would be: peace is only a thought away, and all we have to do to access it is silence the voice of our dominating left mind.  Jill Bolte Taylor

Have you ever wondered how your best friend lives so freely “moment-to-moment” while your mind is imprisoned by thoughts of past events and/or planning of future events (so neatly) written in your (overly structured) daytimer?

Brain Hemispheric Specialization provides insight into why some of us are more present focused and able to “go with the flow” (Right Brain dominant); while others are busy planning their days with the step-by-step precision of a NASA engineer (Left Brain dominant).

Left and Right Brain

Brain and Behaviour

Despite being identical in structure, the two halves of the brain specialize in how they process information (e.g., Past vs. Present), and how they function (e.g., Verbal vs. Nonverbal).

Processing Differences

  • Left hemisphere – processes information sequentially, one bit at a time
  • Right hemisphere – processes information globally, considering it as a whole

Functional Differences

  • Left hemisphere – includes verbal tasks, such as speaking, reading, thinking, and reasoning.
  • Right hemisphere – includes nonverbal areas such as the understanding of spatial relationships, recognition of patterns and drawings, music, and emotional expression.

To learn more about neuroscience and behaviour – Download Chapter 2 of my psychology textbook with McGraw-Hill Ryerson Higher Education.

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Neuroscience in Your Life

Have you ever wondered if you were more Left or Right Brain dominant?

  1. Complete Left/Right Brain Dominance Test to find out which brain hemisphere currently dominates your life.
  • I obtained a score of 10 on this test – indicating that I am equally Left and Right Brained. Which didn’t surprise me as I often “lay the table” with outlines, organizers, etc. (Left Brain) And the moment I feel safe, grounded, and prepared, I sit back and watch the ideas fly! (Right Brain)
  • What about you? How did you score on the Left/Right Brain Dominance Test? Was it what you expected? Were the results consistent with how you live your life? Did you learn something new about yourself?

Who would you be without one of your hemispheres?  How would you cope?

2. Watch this 20 minute video to discover how Neuroscientist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor turned her real-life tragedy into an awe inspiring “Stroke of Insight“.

Shifting Positive on a Stressful Day.

On By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Coping Strategies, Health Psychology, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Personal Growth, Positive Psychology, Psychology Class, Resilience, Strengths, Stress Hardiness, Stress Management, Student Success, Teaching, Thriving10 Comments

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Psychology Class 101

In psychology class this week, I taught one of my favourite subjects – Stress, Coping, and Health Psychology Chapter 11 in my psychology textbook.

I purposely teach this topic during the height of midterms. Raising awareness about the healthy (and not so healthy) ways students manage stress is critical for building resilience.

Shifting Negative -> Positive

One of my top 10 techniques for shifting students (and myself) from stress to peace is to share what’s going right even (especially) when things are going wrong. Small uplifts in the course of the day change everything. Fleeting. Unexpected. Goodness.

As a college professor (and former school psychologist), I would never deny the stress students (or you) are under. Witnessing stress is an essential part of moving through it. This is a key part of my stress lecture. However, I choose not to remain in the territory of “what’s wrong” for too long.

What We Focus on Expands

Once we observe what’s wrong. (This list can be mighty long.) We must move on to what’s right. We must shift our focus and raise our awareness to the uplifting moments that take place in the course of any given day.

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We make the shift from powerless to empowered in the second half of class by sharing all the (unexpected) goodness (big and small) happening in students’ lives. For example:

A radiant smile from a fellow commuter. Free coffee at McDonald’s. An unexpected A on a paper. A sweet parking spot. A neighbour helping you shovel your driveway. Surprise compliment from a stranger. A really good night’s sleep.

And I’m the fortunate professor who gets to read all these uplifts at the end of a long, wintery day. One more reason why I love working with students.

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How do you shift positive in the midst of a stressful day?