[PSTUM-list] Re: Motivating Graduate Students

Hi, A few suggestions: 1. The meetings should be on a predictable, REGULAR BASIS so that grad students can plan to attend (modeling one of the important strategies for successful teaching: Planning). This is not the same as regularly announcing an irregularly scheduled meeting (e.g., always announcing a meeting two weeks in advance). 2. Make clear in announcements what kind of INFORMATION AND ACTIVITIES can be expected (from what I see on the web, only the information part of this is generally offered). 3. Another key to increasing attendance is DISTRIBUTION. Remind teaching faculty (not just grad students) that the regularly scheduled meeting is coming up in 7 days and in 2 days. Do this on the web, through email, and on flyers. For flyers, choose a distinctive color for the teaching seminar and always put teaching seminar flyers on this same color. These flyers should be BOTH: distributed to mailboxes AND posted in places frequented by teaching faculty (e.g., over every copy machine in the department - give them something to read in that photo-copy-zen state of mind). Also, remove the flyer as soon as the meeting is over or post flyers that list SEVERAL upcoming meetings and leave in place for a long time (the first strategy is actually more likely to generate attendance, since the old flyer disappears and a blank spot on the wall exists for a bit before the new flyer is posted). 4. Personally invite five people to the meeting, one at a time. For each who promises to attend, ask them to commit to bringing a friend. Shandy