Amer,
Yes, because through the sharing of experiences and stories you are reinforcing to your students two things, one you have been where they are and two, you know what you are talking about.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I think one effective way to achieve this is when an instructor shares their own past success story , or possibly other success stories of previous students.
Marshall,
Respect and rapport are two very important parts of being an instructor. We need to earn the respect of our students while giving them respect in return if they earn it. Rapport then creates a connection between the students and the role model, meaning the instructor. Good points.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Marshall,
A lot of career success depends on the ability to problem solve and thinking critically. I like this strategy for helping your students to see the big picture. I am sure this was not only a fun exercise but one that got them to think about how they will see things in the future. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Kelly,
This connection is important for students to know about. Often they think they are the only ones that have ever gone to school under stressful and challenging circumstances. Knowing their instructor has gone through the same challenges gives them a model to follow.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I would talk to the student and see what kind of barriers they may have. After finding some facts out see if I could help them or refer them to some who can. If it is a learning disability than find out what tools they may need to help them.
Early in the course it is most important to build rapport which the students and to get an understanding of their motivations to enroll. By doing this we as instructors offer the student an early view of ourselves as teachers and facilitators. We inturn can gain insight to each student's wants, needs, and experiences which can greatly aid us in promoting broad based engagement of the students.
Recently, I challenged my students to see the larger picture relating to a subject than the direct question at hand. Many were focused on that question before them, but I needed them to grasp the concepts in a way that would bring recall of the broader subject no matter how the question was asked. This was necessary because an upcoming certification test will surely ask questions in ways that challenge the students thorough understanding of the subject in many areas. I used a tool I borrowed from an "in- service training day"- the Anistazi Indian numeral system. I arranged dry erase pens in various fashions and asked the students to tell me which numbers from 1 to 10 were represented by the arrangements. At the same time I showed the value by the number of fingers I posed on the table. Some students got it quickly others didn't, but the point was to look at the larger picture than the question at hand, or in this case, the pens on the table and their surrondings. Since that day I've recalled the big picture to the students and they are grasping the concepts in a broader way that will enable them in testing and further throughout their careers.
Sherri,
Thank you for sharing this great story. This is what teaching is all about. We need to be their support and mentors as they work through their program.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I believe you need to let them know you understand what they are going through. I know when I went to college, my kids were young. When they grew up, it's like I didn't have time for it anymore. I am now enrolling in college and going back for my degree.
Sometimes all they need is a compliment of a "job well done", or encourgement that they "CAN do this" I recently had a very quiet (ethnically diverse student) whom I was concerned didn't understand the work. When I gave him a simple compliment on the work at hand, He immediately smiled and rattled on about the assignment and even gave pointers to other students on how he remembered certian terms.
Reassurance and encouragement will help the student overcome any fears of failure. Giving the students progress reports will help them understand the areas they are lacking and allow you to develop a plan of action with the student to correct any errors or problem situations.
Being available to listen to student concerns will show care/concern and that will motivate the student to be successful even in times of difficulty. It is important to remember that although the student may address concerns, do not allow yourself to get caught up in the complaints. You are the professional and must maintain that at all times.
Mark,
So true and such an important part of student development. If they can see the value of having a strong work ethic then they will see how they can be successful in their careers. This is what employers are looking for so the students need to develop it while in school.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
The goal should be to remind students of how much their maturity level has increased from those high school years. Reiterating a fresh start with new challenges that can and will be conquered in time.
I reassure them that as a instructor my task is to ensure their success. This will allay some fear, and of course through coaching and encouragement I can get them to strive forward with the confidence they need to do well. I also tell them that failure, and dropping out is not an option.
Yes Sir I agree. That is why I feel the students need to see how what they are learning applies to the "Real World". Work ethnic is a lost and dying art.Puctuallity, Manners and a drive to succeed will carry one along way in life. I feel we must lead by example and use our past experience, success and failures, to help motivate students. "Real world Experiences for a Real world education."
Daniel,
It really is. Moving with a forward focus to success is what it is all about.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
If you have biographical information on your students, you can interview them, or ask them about their experiences and then relate it to something within the course, making them feel like they can handle the curriculum.
Provide an example of an anonymous past student, making it a good news story, of course. Highlight your willingness to help the student, if that's what is required.
Mark,
So true and so often missed by many students. This is "real world" preparation for "real world" success. Simple to say but difficult for many to grasp. They have to bring effort to class each time they enter.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Sounds a lot like form follows function. If you imagine it, if you can see yourself in a new role, you can work toward that goal and be more receptive to learning new experiences. The hardest part is relearning concepts if you learned them wrong in the first place.
