James Jackson

Justian, as the saying goes, you must first give respect to gain respect. This is very true with students and we as instructors also need to be mindful of the generational factor as each generation has a different twist on what respect implies and requires. I have always enjoyed the students that tend to "buck" the system as I have found them to be some of the more interesting of my students. I have found that taking some time to get to know them better can build a strong bond that can then be used with other students. The key… >>>

Vance, great topic and I love that you point out to your students the power of self-talk. How we perceive of ourselves is as important as any class we take or any level of effort we put into the learning process. The more we know the further we go is so true but the better we feel about ourselves also plays a role in how much we feel we CAN know. Building small wins into the curriculum is key towards building confidence within our students and with the course materials. If your course is designed to weed students out then… >>>

Raquel, other factors can also be part of the issue including different forms of learning disorders. The more you get to know your students as individuals the more you can adequately assess their need for more assistance. For some students they simply do not know how to study or know how to prepare for major assignments including assessments while for others they prepare hard and know the materials but the methodology of assessing their knowledge may not conform to their talents. I have mentioned this in other posts and it seems very appropriate here - One size does not fit… >>>

Dan, great post and thanks for seeing the goal of the class. The value of being a Guide is not just a focus area, it is the result of years of analysis and observation in many different settings. The guide process is the one that tends to provide the best overall management style and fosters the best consistency in outcomes. This does not imply that an overnight change is required to achieve your goals as an instructor but the pursuit of focusing on the goals of the Guide will tend to take you in the best possible direction of enhanced… >>>

Tim, great reminder to all of us in the Career College sector that there are reasons for institutions such as ours. Just as there is a place for those institutions that focus on weeding out students that may not be at the top of the curve, there is also an important spot for Career Colleges where passion and hard work can pay great dividends to those students who are willing to take some time and work with faculty that care about them and their outcomes. The approach may be different but the level of success is just as exciting. James… >>>

Jenna, great point. In fact I find it important to remind students that the most advanced scientific leaders of any time frame were certain beyond any doubt that their view of the universe was the correct one and history tells us a great story that each new generation just finds the facts of yesterday NOT to always be the truths of today. Science is about the pursuit of knowledge but only a fool things they have the absolute answer to anything until it is 100% accepted over the generations of peer review and scientific methodology. For example, we have known… >>>