I think we'd all do well to use a little more encouragement for our students and our families!
I think this is crucial - establish your expectations of the students early on (in the syllabus, on the first day, continually throughout the term), then offer frequent and meaningful feedback of how they are performing. It lets the student know you are paying attention, but also, it provides them the feedback they need to excel in the subject matter. Particularly in classes where mastery of an artform, software application, or technique, the student benefits from seeing it done correctly and having the chance to ask questions one-on-one. I find this keeps students motivated regardless of whether they do well or not.
For me I think the best way is reinforcement and giving credit were credit is due. Also a simple "At a Boy" you are doing well, helps a lot and lets the student know how they are doing in the class and for the term. Positive encouragement is always god
Making sure they understand course objectives and they know what to expext. Also, addressing their concerns and offer additional tutoring if necessary.
I find providing direct, personal feedback early in the term to be effective, and then making sure I follow up with that as the term progresses. Students - both traditional and non-traditional - seem to perform better when they know someone is closely monitoring their work and providing encouragement, and I attempt to fulfill that function.
One way is to praise them for taking the first step in bettering their opportunities by going to school. Another way is to let them know they are not alone in their concerns, and although their fears are understandable, I am here to help inside and outside the classroom.
Yes, emphasizing and problem solving goes a long way to reducing frustrations.
I think it is important to try to identify or possibly re-frame the students situation. You can empathize, this creates a connection. You cannot join in the complaint, but often when students feel you understand the situation you can work together to come up with solutions.
I can share my own experience as a young college freshman and as a career changer later in life. Both times education helped my tremendously.
Letting them know they can talk with you about their problems. Offer motivation about their work in school and help them to persist in their goals.
Helping students overcome their fear of not being successful in their college work involves setting the expectations up front, building online relationships and quickly and timely feedback and response to student questions. Covering the syllabus along with course expectations and objectives gives the student a realist view of what is coming in the weeks ahead. Building relationships with others begin by introducing the students to the online student social network and encouraging them to communicate with one another during the online seminars or group projects. Lastly, by answering questions and giving grading feedback quickly, the students know what expectations I have as their instructor.
One of the primary ways I help career changers is to talk to them about my own experiences changing from a career in healthcare to a career in Culinary Arts. One of the issues is also a feeling that older students will be competitive with younger students in a fast-paced industry, so it is important to explain that there are a myriad of opportunities in the field, not just restaurants.
When they relax a bit about end goals, their performance improves.
Success conquers fear. An instructor needs to provide an appropriately planned learning environment geared to the needs of each individual learner--one which allows student success and at the same time challenges each student to attain/strive for the next level of learning.
I've found over the years that encouragement coupled with formative feedback can give students the confidence they need to feel successful and thus be successful.
Hi Larry,
I can understand where you are coming from with your disagreement on the statement about "it being fine in high school". Maybe a better way of stating it would be it is tolerated in high school. With all the issues that surround secondary education today, such as AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) testing through the No Child Left Behind and the no competition in high school between students movement the students are not as experienced in coping with real life as they might be. This does make our job on the post-secondary level harder. We have to help them prepare for a career, develop maturity, understand consequences of actions, and be successful in college. A lot on their plates all at once but that is life in college. Whatever support we can provide will really help them to progress in all of these areas.
Gary
in my pass classes, I have found that IF I lay out my expectations
for the student, over 95% of the student come through very good
work. But, if for some reason the student missed the first day of class
when all the expectations were explain, I would get almost 50% of
this group not doing well! Even though these students where given
the requirements for the class separately
I believe that Day One of class is vital to success, along with giving
the student a since that there is no other way BUT to do the work!!!
on a separate issue - in the reading for this section about High school
students and how they are treated -- " they were Bering coddled if you will,
due to their age, inexperience" " this is fine in High School"
I think this is the main reason we have trouble in college because
HS students are not show how to deal with the real world - I totally
disagree with this statement!!
Those "light bulb" moments are fantastic. Deductive reasoning is key here. By carefully wording a question that allows the student to actualy think and come up with the answer, builds confidence.
Hi John,
Thank you for sharing this example. This can be filed under "see you are learning more than you think your are". These are "ah-ha" moments that students have and this really builds their confidence both in taking tests but also in their career development.
Gary
I was told by a couple of students that they were feeling uncomfortable about a test they were going to take today. I proceeded to question them on what they were learning in class recently. After a couple of questions that they answered correctly and rather quickly, they realized that they were learning/retaining more than they thought. You could almost see the confidence returning to their faces.
Hi Albert,
Right you are about the need to clearly lay out the course requirements, expectations and polices. Also, you make a good point about the need to repeat this information several times during the course. Students often dismiss information that they don't need at the moment so they need to have their memories refreshed at times about projects, due dates and assignments.
Gary
