I often wonder if the public education system could learn a thing or two from the business world. No were not simply turning out a product each year in the form of high school graduates, but in many ways we are selling a product. Education.
For those of you who completely ignore the holiday shopping season, today is Black Friday, the most talked about shopping day of the year. Many retailers would also have you believe that today is the day where they will offer the best deals on all of the must have items. Truth be told the deals offered on Black Friday aren’t really that great. They are largely a marketing ploy to draw shoppers into the store and spend money. One or two door busters and a whole store full of other products waiting to be purchased at sizable profit margins. At the end of the day the stores have made enough profit to make up for slow sales quarters and carry them through the end of the school year. A big song and dance to trick shoppers into buying more.
So what does Black Friday have to do with our product of education?
As teachers we need to offer an incentive to get our students reengaged in the learning process, a door buster if you will.
As teachers we need to offer an incentive to get our students reengaged in the learning process, a door buster if you will. Offer students a point or two to of extra credit if they come in for extra help during their lunch. The extra credit really isn’t enough to make a difference in the grand scheme of grading but the knowledge the students gain from working with you certainly will help. If students are missing assignments, set up a one time homework forgiveness sale. The students come in ask questions, work together, and learn the content.
Our goal as educators is to pass along content knowledge and teach students to think. If students have made poor choices in regards to their education, come up with some creative marketing to “trick” them into making better choices. It may take a few points of extra credit, homework forgiveness, or even candy but you can get your students to buy what you’re selling.
The students will feel good about the extra credit and not even realize that they are also building academic skills and content knowledge. Offering an incentive to come in and work with the teacher also gives you extended time to build a relationship with the student. They may come in for the bonus points but they’ll stay for that relationship.
Marketing tricks and bonus points will get the students in the door, but it will be up to you to keep them there. What Black Friday deals will you offer in your classroom?
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