Explaining clearly what the class objectives are, what the pass/fail requirements are and how the class subject matter can be applied to the real world usually makes the students in my class relax. Repeating these facts several times during the course gives the students the confidence they need to be successful. The unknown portion of any class generates great fear in the students.
If you meet with students one on one, it will help to learn more about them, then you can focus more on their specific needs.
Hi Patti,
I agree. Rapport with students is very important for a number of reasons. One of those is respect. They will respect an instructor with whom they have rapport and have build a connection. Also, rapport helps them to create a network of connections among the class members and yourself. This form of networking can assist them later on when they are looking for a position or need a letter of recommendation.
Gary
I think one thing instructors can do is build good rapport with their students. STudents become comfortable with the instructor and will start talking about their issues, problems or what they like or dislike. I try to do that with my students and it has worked pretty well.
I think the most effective way to help students overcome their fear of not being successful is by timely and specific feedback. Corrections the student needs to make might be obvious to an instructor, but the student needs the instructor to be specific and not too general. This can include giving examples. Also, this feedback should be accompanied by pointing out what the student is doing well and why this is an example of a good answer or good effort. The feedback needs to occur in timely way, which will help the student in future work and shows that student that you are also putting forth your best effort.
I try to give my students a lot of encouragement about their ability to successfully complete the assignments in class. I also make sure they know that I am available outside of normal class hours through e-mail or office hour appointments if they would like to talk in more detail privately about their work or the insecureties they might have when it comes to student success. Another strategy is to relate to them with stories of my own college education, and how I felt the same fears about being successful. But by sticking with it, and applying myself to the best of my abilities, I was able to do very well.
I start off my class by telling all of my students that College should be fun. You are choosing to be here and that means something. You have a goal and the closer you get to that goal the better you feel.
I also inform that they should have fun in my class because it's not a gen ed class, it's not about structure and how straight and narrow you can be, but to branch out and think outside the box. If you haven't ever thought outside the box before, don't worry, many of us hadn't until we were shown how. You can do anything you set your mind to and if you are still having trouble, we have tutoring available as well as you can email me anytime and I would be happy to assist you in getting started, or helping you get through it if you're stuck.
I think that is a great idea Cornelius. I try to bring in a speaker from our library staff to speak on internet searches and websites to assist the students with their term papers.
For those students who are struggling with nderstanding the course material, I give them a list of internet resources which they can easily access. These resources help the student develop research skills which will halp them answer questions when the instructor is not accessible. It also helps the student develop confidence in their ability to effectively utilize available technology.
Hi Geraldine,
At times being a "cheerleader" is a good thing for students. Based upon your comments in the forum you are doing that for your students. They know that you are going to be there to support their efforts if they are willing to invest the time and study needed to be successful.
Gary
I would tell the students that I am available to help them with any question that they have. I would also try to find ways to assure them that they have made the right choice. I can also help build their confidence by encouraging them along the way with positive feedback and relating all of this to the trade that they are learning.
Hi Marc,
Good points about the how and when to provide feedback to students. I like the way you provide both realistic and constructive feedback so you can get student growth through your feedback effort.
Gary
Hi Micheal,
These are great strategies to share with your students. If the students will listen to you and follow your advice about how to take notes and stay focused they will be successful.
Gary
Hi Kimberly,
The development of rapport with students will really help you to open up avenues of communication with your students. If they feel comfortable with and trust you as an instructor they will be more open in discussions about the support they need. Knowing the door is always open to them is a great comfort.
Gary
Immediate and regular positive feedback toward student successes, however small, helps to mitigate fear and build confidence incrementally.
I try to frame what a student needs to improve upon in light of what he or she is doing well or correctly.
It is crucial that we do not gloss over weaknesses in student work with a lot of "artifical sunshine," but it is also crucial to remember that something positive, something they can build on, is always present.
Bringing that to light can help ease anxiety and sow the seeds of academic self-esteem.
Specifically, I talk about time management; I talk about the power of repetition. Concomitantly, I point out that more repetitions are needed for subjects we do not necessarily embrace. I suggest to them to overcome the desire to give all your repetitions to the classes you have a passion for. Working hard in all areas is a key to having success in all classes. I also talk about note taking in class and retyping them when they get home. I discuss eliminating distractions from cell phones and Ipods, etc.
Show them the way; talk about methodology. I have taught courses in College Success and I use that information like salt and pepper in all my classes. In my time in college I rarely if ever heard a professor speak about how to be a successful student; I do it a great deal. I wish my teachers would have done it when I was younger.
Some ways you can help students to overcome their fear of not being successful in their college work is to build into your conversations failures that you have had and recovered from. Life is not a smooth road. There will be accountability, frustrations and failures. Grow from them and watching others.
I start them out slow and try to find some things they are good at and help them recognize those things right away then usually it helps them gain confidence and then they are a little more willing to try the things that they are afraid of. I also encourage them to seek out tutors or come to me for help. Many times they are afraid of repercussions from their instructors and that is not the case --if they dont let us know what their fears are we cant help them work thru it so I encourage open door policy especially if it involves one of my instructors.
I try to help my students develop support systems with each other by doing group projects throughout the quarter. I will let them choose their own groups for the first half of the quarter. They use these groups for study groups, in class activities, etc. They exchange contact information and I tell the students that if they miss a class to ask their group what they missed first before coming to see me. Then, for the second half I ask them to change groups so that they aren't with the same people. I've noticed that when I do this exercise, most of the students are happy to change groups. Throughout the first half of the quarter, they have built up their confidence (I believe!) enough to attempt to work with a new group of people.
