without exceptance they will not feel part of the community.
I find with my students if they feel accepted they find it easier to participate in the class. I've noticed with one of my students that when she began to feel like an outcast in the class she performed below her usual performance level. It seemed harder for her to focus on the class because she was worried about what her ex-friend was saying about her. The feeling of acceptance is very imporatant to some students, they don't feel so alone in their learning process.
LISA,
Yes, we do. It is easy to neglect such students and as a result they will be gone before we know it.
Gary
I agree and when students don't feel accepted in class, I believe it can create a self esteem issue in the ones who may not know their worth. I think we need to be mindful of those feeling if we see them.
I teach a lab were the student is actually all hands on when they are in lab. I see them grow into their success. The encouragement and practice that they do help them feel successful and with that they seem to find their acceptance. I think it is the best part of my job.
Tom,
I teach a foundational required course as well so I clearly understand your position with such a course. With your relaxed approach you are reducing student fears while showing them how they can have success. Keep up the good work.
Gary
If students feel accepted by their peers and the instructor, they're more likely to want to show up for class, which is often half of the battle for them, in order to succeed. As an English instructor at my school, I have a captive audience with the students, who are often afraid to take my courses. One of the first things I try to do to help them to relax, whether it's a writing or speech class, is to get them comfortable with each other and with me. I identify with their situation first. We talk to each other about our expectations in a comfortable setting. This leads us into an atmosphere of encouragement for students who tend to be somewhat shy and insecure about their abilities in the classroom. If I start the quarter off like this, the rapport between all of us tends to get better throughout the term. For example, when students who are less sure of themselves get up to present, their peers tend to give them helpful feedback and cheer them on, thus making that marginal student feel like part of the team and want to succeed.
If a student does not feel accepted in class, they will refrain from participating. This is so unfortunate because the students will not benefit from shared experiences. By creating an environment where all students feel safe and welcome, the learning experience is truly maximized.
If a student does not "feel accepted" he or she may disingage. The attitude of the student becomes one of negative rather than positive. Students many times become support for each other. The support is seen very often in classes that are of block in nature. Students are together for all classes.
One of our basic human needs is to be accepted and to be part of a group. People perform much better when they feel part of a group and become
not only individual stakeholders in what they are doing as well as becoming a positive contributor to the class as whole (participation, validating and encouraging others, etc.).
I agree with this assessment and employ this same technique. One area I tend to emphasize is each students abilities with respect to their experience. I feel this area often impacts some students in a negitive way. This is due to students being added to my existing class 4 times a year. Being hands on and having a demographic with such a wide range of abilities, students often feel they are way behind. I stress that no students are better just that some may have more experience. What are some ideas that could help my students in this situation.
Hi Deanne,
This is a very important aspect of being instructor. Effort needs to be made to help each student get settled into the course and feeling that support is there for them as needed.
Gary
By making the student feel accepted in the classroom it will enhance their ability to speak openly and freely and feel good about themselves which in turn will encourage the student and motivate them to work up to their potential.
Students of an advanced age will always come feeling very uncomfortable with their learning style and ability. They usually believe the younger students are simply better at doing the work (taking test, homework, etc.) and this causes anxiety. I try to address these issues early in the term and make it know that everyone learns differently and although the older students may not be as adept at test taking, they have a significant amount of knowledge to lend to the course that younger students may not. This usually helps alleviate some anxiety.
I believe acceptance is the one thing everyone needs, it makes us feel a part of, and when a student feels safe and secure they will do better.
you learn better when you are in a comfortable setting. if the student is tense or upset he or she will not be concentrating on the lesson and will shut down to new information
Hi Jeff,
Good point about acceptance. It is very hard for older students to come back to school. They are worried that they won't be successful and that increases their anxiety level. By knowing they are being accepted at the level they are and that their instructor will be supportive they get settle into the course and feel they can succeed.
Gary
None of the students , even the quiet ones should be overlooked . In being included ,all the students will see and feel that they are valued and have something to contribute . PF
students who don't feel accepted usually have a real or imagined deficiancy. all you have to do is make sure they feel equally treated and accepted by you and everybody else that matters. breaking them up into small groups would just heighten their real or imagined isolation.
Acceptance is very important and contributes to the success of the student in a multitude of ways. First, acceptance lowers the barriers for learning. Instead of being wary of the instructor and the other students, they can spend their efforts on the material and not have to deal with negative emotions.
Secondly, feeling accepted will more likely result in the student freely participating in discussions and more likely for that student to help other students. Both of these actions from feeling accepted will result in better learning.
