Non Confident Student
What makes a student not confident and how do you reach them with out pushing to hard?
Eddie,
Good point and one we need to remember as we prepare for out classes.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I found you have to stay positive, and share some of your real life situations with them, for motivation.
Yes, I agree. Remind students that it takes practice and if they keep trying that ususally it will "click" for them. Everyone has their own way and time frame when it comes to learning.
Magdalena,
Also, if you can give her an assignment that will let her demonstrate to the class her knowledge and skills. She could lead a discussion group, do a demonstration or make a mini-presentation, something that will help her rebuild her confidence.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I reciently had a student lose confidence tremendously by having another student publicly put them down. when that happens it makes things kind of difficult. What do you do to encourage them after being humiliated like that? Ive tried telling her that, that stuff doesnt matter and that the other students opinion is irrelevent, rise up and prove them all wrong. Show that you are competetent and that you are good at what youre going to do. Reverse the students thought process from hurt and put down, to fired up and inspired.
Walt,
Key term -- "Just be patient!" So true and essential if we are going to enjoy maximum success with our students as well as earn their respect.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Many of my non-confident students seem to have similar traits; They did poorly in high school or another post-secondary institution thay may have attended in the past. They may have had limited success in their personal and professional lives to date also. Bottom line is that they may not have been successful in an educational setting....ever. Our job as instructors is to prove to them that they can be successful. The key is to provide them positive reinforcement when they hand in a stellar assignment and to have patience with them. Their confidence level may not be built up overnight. Also, when they are working with a team to complete a lab project, have them work with a team where the level of confidence among the members is high to begin with. Observe the team carefully to insure that the team members are interacting with the non-confident student in an appropriate way. If our non-confident student receives positive feedback from the students as well as the instructors, then how can he fail?? Success builds success. Just be patient!
That they might not be successful at attaining classroom technical skills.I tell the students they will be sucessful because they learn theory first then step by step proceedures. Technology that I teach is Pivot Point . There are also books in all hands on techniques that they will be using in the salon. I show them the books they will recieve ,show them one short procedure on a braiding workshop ,then let them try. Let them see that its easy if you pay close attention to the steps, its that easy. The student has confidence in the instructor, their ability to teach and for the student to learn.
Charles,
A common practice I normally use in class is to tell them that it's okay to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them. When they do things the right way, I let them know that they did so.
I do every time they do something right or finish an assingment I make my way to them and say Good Job on that assingment.
Charles,
There can be many things in their past that have contributed to their lack of confidence. What they need is some support and encouragement from you. Nothing builds confidence like success. So try to give them projects early on that will enable them to have success. Then make sure to show them how successful they have been. Slowly their confidence levels will rise and they will be ready to take on some bigger tasks in the class.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
