Help them to understand that things like childcare and transportation are also equally as important to figure out and work out the bugs while in school so they won't be bombarded with those aspects too when competing for a job when they get out. Be compassionate but also stick to your guns.
Thank you for the great discussion. I help students identify and create a personal support system through a case study / game where we look at an obstacle and situation and determine needs in a support system. Students then identify who in their world could be helpful and serve as a mentor.
Stelian,
Yes it will in terms of positive outcomes. Supporting students helps them to stay in school and make progress toward their career goals.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Michael,
I like and use the cohort system with many of my students. I think it is a great way to create a learning community that supports and helps each other to achieve success.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Personal support to your students will take time out of your busy schedule. It will require more of your skills and make sure to have a positive outcome.
That's why I think the cohort system is important. Students get to know each other and act as support systems as they study, work and learn together. Sometimes when a student may want to quit or is having personal problems their cohort members will step in and assist and put positive peer pressure on the student or whatever is needed to ameliorate the situation.
I have found that pairing student in different age group also help support student who may be having difficulties in certain areas.
Support is vital, I would agree. However, it seems that in our school, we are the only support in some cases. It is very dificult to support students when they themselves have no idea of what their needs our. Very often, we fins out too late to be able to assist or they want us to do all of the work for them. This makes it very challenging for us to help. We have tons of resources available to our students and discuss them to the enth degree, but so many either do not access out of pride or want us to do all of the work and just give them answers. The idea that we will "fix" everything for them and they just sit back and wait for the reult they want is a huge challenge.
Jennifer,
I commend you for providing this resource to your student. By making them aware of this support and doing an introduction I know you are keeping in school students that would let life overwhelm them to they point they would quit. You are impacting lives through your efforts. Keep up the good work.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Some adult learners decide to come to school although they may not have a good support system at home or at work. They come to class with a lot of concerns. They are afraid to fail and let others think they were right in discouraging them from going to school. As instructors, we need to support them, understand their needs and expectations from school and from their careers, acknowledge their fears and insecurities, so we can improve their self-esteem and confidence.
Also, sharing personal (appropriate) experiences in class, which are relevant to the objectives of the class, is useful because students need to see that they are not the only ones who make mistakes; everybody makes mistakes and the most important thing is to learn how to move on.
we have a student services director - on the first day of class I hand out the director's contact info and explain the myriad of things the students can get help with. i also ask the director to come speak to my classes.
during the semester, i proactively (but privately) discuss these resources with students who appear to be struggling with personal problems.
also, i advise them to get a study group and an accountability buddy in the beginning of the semester. the students have said it really helped them stay on track when they missed a class and gave them a much needed sense of comraderie.
I have observed that when students have a problem or obstacle in the way of their classroom success, many times they just focus on the obstacle instead of finding solutions. I teach in the technology area and a common obstacle my students have is lack of an adequate computer. Instead of this being a reason they can't complete their work, I try to suggest ways they can complete their work, like using the campus labs, finding a friend or relative with a computer, or staying after class. My main point, whatever the obstacle, is that students just need help to see the bigger picture.
Angela,
This is a good strategy to use with your students. These support groups will help to keep the students engaged and focused on what is being taught as well as provide encouragement when needed.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I encourge students to start a support group using their class mates. Then ideas can be bounced off each other and it also helps in study buddies. Some students do not have support for the decision of returning to school and may even be put down by others. If we as instructors know this, just making sure we ask how things are going or how they are enjoying class and also reminding them of their motivation helps a lot. We also have to encourge them to keep going and makinging ourselves available so if needed, the student can stop by and get more encourgement. Some of my students have even used neighbors, you will never know if the people next door will be supportive if you don't tell them what you are doing.
by talking with the students and getting to know them which requires the instructor to be a good listener. The instructor can direct the student to the proper individuals if it is a situation beyond his/her control or maybe have a dean come in to the class to adress the issue.
Not only been you need to pass or failing
the class , but it can also lead to then quitting school. It is vital that returning students to find a support system not only outside of the school or college but inside of the school.
I think this is a very valid point. I also make myself availble for students to come get "extra help" or simply to talk about industry/life experiences. Sometime I find that taking the steps to initate this type of rapport helps with those who need a support system.
I agree, no two students learn in the same manner. I may have to approach the same problem from several different directions till one of them "clicks" for that student.
Having students of various ages work together on specific projects/assignments i feel generates respect among all age levels
Many of our students are first generation college students, and 90% single parents. They don't have a support system outside of school who hasn't put them down everyday of thier lives thus far and now they are looking for a change. Its our job to help them.
Helping student when they first walk through our doors create a possitive support system is the KEY towards thier success. It starts with thier admission rep, and student services and FA. Then you gradually add in thier instuctors.
