When I have a student that is struggling with school work. I ask them if there is anyone outside of school that can help them? If their response is no, I try and get them paired up with someone in the class that can help them with their challanges. I also offer to help them as well, but when they are outside of school, and have a question they can contact one of their classmates. Everyone needs support throughout there lives, it surprises me how many family members, spouses, and friends do not support people returning to school.
Why doesn't everyone support their loved ones when it comes to school?
Overall, "buddy systems" seem to work well for mosts classes. Students team up in pairs and have a buddy to email/call for encouragement or class reminders. For some classes, it has been nice to have a class blog or chat area online. We have a portal system with everyone's email, so students are usually comfortable emailing each other through the portal.
While I am available for my students, I also understand that sometimes they are more comfortable with a peer.
Hi Dr,
Yes, finally getting on board, actually I like the concept.
Students come in varied needs and yet they still follow a pattern for needing personal support.
I've been at this campus for 8 years now and can quite easily determine a student's direction or lack of. Since we don't get general alerts on students I will give a general announcement concerning my posted office hours as a means to start/fulfill specific questions.
As a whole, another method for student information is to refer, Student Services, Financial Aid and Career Services. Personal Support Systems even in the classroom environment can simply mean pairing up with someone that may have kitchen experience etc.
I look forward to advancing with the sessions.
Take care.....Juan
Scott... I like your idea of greeting students at the door. That is a great suggestion. Thank you for sharing that with us...
One of the things I do is when opening class I meet each student at the door, shake their hand, give them a warm welcome to class. If I know of something going on in their lives I might ask a vague question about the status of it. I find this helps in the creation of a personal rapport with the students and makes them feel appreciated and establishes me as someone who is approachable. Of course this must be followed up by actually being willing to discuss a situation in earnest with a student once approached and developing the reputation within the school as an instructor who will listen and assist
I could not agree more... and the funny thing is that it really is not that hard to demonstrate that you care about them as an individual an that you are excited about their success. You simply need to listen to students, smile and enjoy their role in the learning process. :-)
Hi Douglas,
The personal factor is critical in teaching. Students need to know that their instructor cares about them and their success as well as being excited about the field.
Gary
Jill... I like the idea of posting a personal bio in the course room. That is a great way of connecting to each individual on a personal level. I also like the idea of sharing information on hobbies and other social aspects of our lives... thanks!
Small groups are a great idea. I also use small groups depending on the course I am teaching... there are some courses that simply do not work well with small groups.
I think the key is focusing on each individual student and discovering what each student needs to be successful in my course. That will include looking at what their educational goals are and what their individual barriers may be.
Getting to know a student on a personal level always seems to go a long ways in terms of the students overall success in my courses.
I also try to take into account any personal issues, disabilities or age barriers that may exist for each student. In doing so I may be able to help each student manage those barriers.
One of my favorite methods to create a support system for all students is through the use of groups in every class I instruct. I have always assigned groups through various methods which enables students to work with everyone. It gives them a lrager support group.
I have worked for a couple of softare firms, and groups are was in every setting, and so it prepares students for life after college.
Hi Jill,
Great strategy for involving students and helping them to learn more about their fellow students. This creates a very comfortable class environment so they can exchange information as well as life experiences as they move through the course.
Gary
I have found that creating a student forum on our on-line portal is a great way to foster a learning community/ support system. On the first day of class, I post a brief biography of myself, including hobbies and a personal picture. During class, I demonstrate how to access the forum, and I then encourage the students to reply and share a bit about themselves, such as their work experience, hobbies, accomplishments, etc. Most students post a picture as well. It's a great way for students to become acquainted and form a support system, and it helps me understand my students better.
In a perfect world this would work. Students carry alot of baggage...A large number of adult learners are responsible for a full time job(s), a full time family and school. Calling a family a "distraction" is just enough to put some over the edge. A large number of students have alot to juggle, and we, as educators must acknowledge this, and we need to adapt. I have seen students left behind by thier families because they could not create a balance and in one extreme case, suicide was the result.
Hi Gary;
I would encourage students to take inventory of "their" personal needs, apart from their immediate acquaintances. College is work, and the student must prioritize their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs in order to make the 'job' of study work. Students need to assess where 'distractions' enter the equation and learn to prioritize, cutting away activities that are becoming road blocks. It is not easy being good to one's self, but ultimately, we become better professionals, willing to serve others.
Mark
As an instructor, I know that I will not have all the answers but I do make it a point to know where to go to get the answers. When a student acts "out of sorts", I will pull them aside and see if I can find out what is happening. The situations have been transportation, finding a roommate, locating medical attention, getting a tutor, or even directions to the food bank. I sent them to correct dept on campus, map quest an address or take them to the person who can help them.
Follow up is key. It really shows that you care.I make it a point to speak to that student and see that their needs have been addressed.
I let them know I am always available.I tell them I can come in early each day, and stay after to help with any problems or concerns that they may have.I also stress to them not to wait to long to seek help or assistance.I also tell them if any thing you come across either while reading the text or during lecture is not very clear ask me as soon as possible,do not wait.I tell them to try and come up with questions to ask me during class the following day, this works for the student and others in the class with similar concerns but will not ask.
Hi Bruce,
The key is to get communication going between yourself and your students as well as among themselves. You are doing that with your chat groups and sounds like with very good results. This is one of the challenges of teaching online and all of us is looking for ways to increase student interaction. Thanks for sharing your strategy.
Gary
I am an instructor for an on-line course. The 5 week course starts off with basic computer information, then Windows 7 introduction, an introduction to Word 2007 and the last two weeks are all about Outlook 2007. In addition to the weekly “live” Virtual Classroom (VCS) we have a weekly chat session.
I have found the weekly chat session a great place to help create online support systems.
During the very first chat, I try to get each student to "voice" their concerns and feelings about the course. We generally have a very diverse group of students, from those right out of high school to people away from school for 20-30 years. Most often, those out of school for some time are very concerned about being "able to do it again". I offer my words of support but generally other students will chime in with the similar concerns. They share background stories and often exchange emails and information. This process seems to provide a support system for the students without recent school experience. (I hesitate to use the term "older students" for two reasons. First it is not PC, and secondly in all cases so far they are younger than I am. So they are not old in my mind.) Some of the other students may have expertise in one or more of the topics during the course and will encourage those less experience by talking about their original learning experience with the overall theme being that "if they could do it, then you can do it".
I did not think that a personal support system (other than what I provide as an instructor) would be possible for students on an online course and am very pleasantly surprised that it does happen for many students.
