Jim,
It does take a few class sessions for the late comers to get up to speak and feel like they fit in.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I also agree but, I think the hard part of all this is when a student starts classes a day or so after every one else does. I'm sure they have the feeling of not fitting in.
Jackie,
You make a number of very good points about how we instructors need to approach our classrooms. With an genuine interest in people and the desire to help them to be successful we are going to impact lives. This is one of the rewards of being a teacher because we are helping train the next generation of professionals entering our respective fields.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I read once that to be successful one must genuinely like people. We know when others' are looking down at us; i.e., our attitudes show. Instructors of our difficult-to-serve population must strive constantly to work on empathy and positive regard for our students and their plights. This includes treating them respecfully, and that also means holding them to a high standard of behavior and productivity. A teacher should never be bored with their profession if he can keep these balancing acts in mind. It certainly offers up a challenge to me. Jackie Ward
Joshua,
You are helping your students to respect each other and what each student contributes to the class. They will need these skills when they are out in the workplace because each day they will interact with a wide variety of individuals and they need to know how to cope with the differences they encounter in their fellow workers.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I found that with my students if I enter mingle them by experience in school as well as age in the lab area, they tend to interact with the whole group dynamic. They end up feed off of each others successes and learn better from their mistakes.
If a student is having trouble with their theory work I try to have one of the more experienced students assist them with there class work. If they are struggling with certain practical techniques I have them watch me or a student that excels in that technique.
In doing this I notice that the students don't form little cliks and everyone learns from everyone else.
Melissa,
This has been my experience as well with mixed generations of learners. Once they learn to respect each other and start to work with each other it is amazing the growth that occurs within the class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It is important for students to feel accepted in classes because they need to feel a sense of accomplishment.Regardless of age, students still need to feel accepted in a classroom-conducive environment because it will help in contributing to their success. I usually have older adults who are pretty much set in their ways of doing things. They do well either way and probably feel that their behavior of being set in their ways is accepted, which for the most part are by the younger group. There is a wide gap in age diversity in my classes that it makes learning so much fun for my students because they learn from each other's experiences and motivates them to continue to keep trying harder every day and to reach their goals.
Brian,
Good point. They need to feel comfortable and accepted. If they don't chances are good they will not stay in the class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It is very important that every student is acceptance by the other students along with the instructor as well. This will foster an open environment where students will feel free to participate in classroom discussions. This will allow the students to exchange ideas and concepts which help them learn from each other as well from the instructor.
April,
I like both of these learning strategies because they reinforce what has been taught and they retention in their working memories is greater. Keep up the good work with them.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I also do alot with Hands on Training. I learn better with this and so do my students. i also like to take them into a "real-world" situation like a Physician's office to see how a Medical Assistant works
James,
Well said. Acceptance is critical if students are going to stay focused on the course and comfortable with the interaction in the class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I teach a course where students have to practice on each other. It is important to help them develop the skills necessary to be comfortable with this kind of more intimate interaction. Encouraging them to realize that these experiences are preparing them for their real life career experiences strengthens their understanding of helping each other feel accepted.
When the student feels accepted by the instructor, and most importantly, by the other students, they will noticeably become more engaged, share more, try harder, ask questions, joke more, and enjoy the learning process. The end result, if everyone feels accepted, is a positive learning environment for everyone.
Charles,
Well said and a good reminder that we need to strive to help our students to feel comfortable and a part of our classes.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Is there any healthy person out there that doesn't want to feel accepted - at anything. With our words we speak either blessings or cursings - words do have the power of life and death.
Jenny,
I agree with your approach to build upon their previous success. Knowing they have been successful and can be successful goes a long way in getting the motivated to learn in the current course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I find that reviewing what the students have already acheived prior to the current class, my class,is most important in feeling accepted and setting the tone for success.
Often a student comes into class with anxiety about their ability to succeed in yet another instructor's list of requirements and expectations.
I think it is so important to remind them of what they have accomplished just to get to this particular class. Even if it is their first class, and you remind them that they have been accepted already. Accepted into the program.
One of the biggest challenges adult learners face when they first start school is being accepted by their peers, will their peers find them smart enough, and are they smart enough. Through acceptance adult learners can excel in their course work.
Virginia,
Well said. Clinic is where everything they have been learning becomes real to them in many different ways. This is when they start to see the ROI of their effort.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
