This takes creativity on the instructor. My experience has been that each individual student has their own fears and identifying these is half the battle. The younger students are looking for positive feedback from peers not neccessarily the instructor, where the older students are looking for feedback from the instructor without public praise. Understanding their needs and meeting those needs indivdidually is the key to alleviating the fears of not being successful. Public praise can be used along with mentors within the class for the younger students, while quiet, personal praise can give the older students the confidence that they belong and are doing well.
I believe some ways that you can help students overcome their fear of not being successful in their college work, is through support. Ways in which an instuctor can show support is through encouragement and motivation. Success is much easier to accomplish when a person has a good support system.
Give them specific tips on how to succeed then gove much priase and encouragement when it works! Point out the small deficiencies in the context of them being a path towards learning.
Hi Melonie,
Good way to make college real for these students. It is their job at this point and they need to respond to the demands of that "job" just as they do at their paid employment. We can't let them forget that.
Gary
It is important to show students that they have already made the first step. All the resources they need to be successful are available to them. Think of your college work as a job assignment, completion and comprehension is one step closer to the next.
One way is to be sure they understand the support system that is available to them if they're having problems. Some of these include providing tutoring by a senior student who previously took the class and did well, helping them to develop good study habits based on how they as an individual learn, and that they should recognize that some things will be easy for them based on their previous experience whereas other things will be more challenging. Also, be sure they understand the level of difficulty of the class in general as early as possible so they will be able to plan the amount of time they need to study. Finally, use a composite grading system that takes into account several different assignments such as tests, homework, term projects, labs, and class participation. By doing this it allows them to regain credit by doing well in some of these areas if they did not do well in another area so they have a better chance of passing the class and also benefit from a diversified learning experience.
Hi William,
Good comprehensive approach to your teaching and student support. This way the students can feel comfortable in the class while knowing they have a caring instructor.
Gary
First, as an instructor, I let my students know that I am here to help them, not penalize them. I am here to help them succeed in my class. I want them to do well and I create an environment in my class that makes the student feel comfortable to ask for assistance. In fact, I try to create an environment, so that the student feels like it is important to seek support from me as an instructor. If the student feels comfortable engaging the instructor for assistance, the student will feel that the instuctor will help them be successful.
Some ways you can help students to overcome their fear of not being successful in their college work is to be available to tutor. This just reinforces you as the teacher cares about the students. Also positive reinforement never hurts.
Hi Douglas,
Well put in terms of relating your own life experiences, both challenges and successes to the students. This way they know you understand where they are coming from. Sometimes they think instructors are not human so they have never encountered any life challenges.
Gary
I consider myself an encourager and not a cheerleader. I try to talk some about my challenges and the degrees I have obtained in a non-traditional environment. I also without going overboard note my human challenges (ie divorce, cancer-survivor) to show that we are no more mighty than they are....and if I can do it, they can to. Hence, a show of empowerment is important but one has to be willing to work to succeed in their desires to better themselves...I am hopefully merely a conduit to that success.
I am just highly encouraging.
I try and understand the specific difficulties of the individual student and suggest practical solutions they can try out of class. This sometimes helps them feel more comfortable as they are in their own setting which in turn gives them more confidence in class.
I also tell all the students of the high level at which they will be able to perform after a certain period of time, reinforcing my confidence in their ability.
Hi Dennis,
This is so important. With all of the pressures that the students bring to the classroom they need help in understanding that one, you understand their situations and two, you are there to help them be successful if they will put forth the effort.
Gary
Outline a plan of action that includes all of their time commitments and show them it is possible.
Hi Gayle,
Student rapport is critical in course success. Your comments show how you are gaining their respect and establishing rapport which leads to increased student retention and satisfaction.
Gary
If you include the student in the planning of their learning process I have found this has help. Giving the student feedback helps the students know they are going in the right direction and gives them confidence in their college work. Getting to know your student, having an open door policy, to discuss anything helps them be sucessful. They have to know that you will support them if needed!
We all have expectations on what we need in college. The instructor and student both have expectations and sometimes they are not met. In order for the student to be successful the instructor has to put out clear, well communicated objectives needed to be met by the student to successfully complete the course. If the instructor see that the student is not meeting the objectives of the course, there needs to be a conversation with the student and instructor as to why the objectives are not met and then make a plan so the student is able to achieve these goals.
Hi Juliet,
So true. Stores of success help contribute to success. Students need to be encouraged to see how they can be successful and examples and real life stories help them toward their career goals.
Gary
As fearsome as students are regarding comparison to their peers, they do often like to hear about others like them who have succeeded. With this in mind, I always provide examples and sometimes personal stories as to success stories that they themselves can relate to. Hearing about someone else overcoming their fears can be a motivator for those particular students to say "if they can do it, so can I!"
