I never forget that as an instructor, I am part Model, part Manager and part Motivator - the best way is to talk to students. What are their fears? What are their stresses? This is how I formulate my strategies for keeping students coming back to school.
Hi Carol,
Isn't it amazing how much “common sense†has to play in the instructional process? Students ask nothing more from instructors than to be treated with respect and be viewed as individuals seeking to improve their future. Sometimes this is missed in instructional planning.
Good instructors will often times step outside of the learning environment and focus on how the human aspects of their students are being handled. Course content is a given in any class but the human dynamics of the class is not. Human needs, support and interactions have to be factored into the learning formula.
Gary
By paying attention to their students!! This also relates to understanding your students and their characteristics. It is also important that instructors treat their students with the respect they deserve. Respect, encouragement, and understanding of issues goes a long way in retaining students.
Hi Ana,
I an responding to both Forum 2 and 3 in relation to your comments. I am always amazed how humans of all ages respond to positive comments. By you making notes on the students' papers and drawing smiley you are saying you care about their success. You also are illustrating that you have taken the time to review their work and make notations that will be of benefit to them in their career development. All of these actions contribute to retention and rapport for and with students. You are on the right track. I would guess from your comments that the students really enjoy your classes.
Gary
Some students need encouragement to make it through the day. If you great them with a smile and ask how they are doing as they walk through the door this helps break the ice. I let the student know I am there to help , listen and teach. I write notes on there paperwork , or draw a smilely face, and give them a certificate of achievment at the end of the course. These little things make a big impact on them.It makes them feel wonderful and that someone cares.
Hi Elizabeth,
It is the personal attention that so often keeps a person pursuing their goals. By you encouraging them you are reaffirming their need to keep in school. Keep up the good work.
Gary
when i see or hear that some of my students are a little down with there problems and they want to drop out,I often ask if there's any way i can help and reassure them that they are doing a wonderful job.that for a good reason they had set a goal to come to school and that i will try to help them acheive their goal
Hi Kane,
The key part of your statement relates to helping all students to remember why they are enrolled and coming to class. They often forget that reason when they become bogged down with everyday life.
As an instructor you have to devise multiple ways of keeping the career goals in the front of the students' minds. I think this is a fun part of teaching. Looking for new ways of keeping the students motivated and focused help to insure that teaching is never boring plus it keeps us challenged as educators.
Gary
Hi Glenn,
Simply put, we must always factor in a sense of humanness for our students. As you mentioned we have all been there at one time or another, with sick kids, car trouble or whatever. We need to help the students through these problems and help keep them focused on why they are in school in the first place. We must also make sure our help is help and not be just an enabler. For my nontraditional students in many cases they were looking for an enabler not a helper. I worked very hard to help them through the troubled times while allowing them to identify their own solutions to many of their problems.
Gary
Hi Kane,
You have captured professional development. Just keep looking for better ways of doing things, observing those around you, and always, always explore ways of gaining new knowledge and you will do well.
Gary
Hi Kane,
The first comment is that the lab needs to have comfortable works stations. The chairs must be set at the right height and the work area must be large enough for the students to feel that they have a range of motion that fits their needs.
The key points for the general lab is that it is well lighted and the line of vision to the instructor is clear. The students need to be able to glance up and see that instructor no matter where he/she is in the room. A critical point is the work station surroundings must be high enough to minimize distractions while retaining the ability to see. Work stations set at angles or in Vs seem to work best.
I have found the most successful computer classes are those that most closely reflect business. A work carrel arrangement with traffic flow that doesn't disrupt is a must.
I am assuming that you have already looked at wall color, bulleting boards, wall decorations, etc. These all contribute or distract from the learning environment.
A suggestion for helping with the physical setting is to have someone that is not in the field to walk in and have them observe what the environment is saying to them. They may be able to pick up on something that is a real barrier in the environment that you are missing. I always am looking for someone else's perspective on what I am doing be it lab or instructional content.
Gary
Hi Jim,
I agree with you. I always wanted to keep my finger on the pulse of the class. As you know each class is different and when it merges into a learning community it has its' own personality. Through constant feedback I could determine just what was needed for that specific class. In addition, I could focus on any people issues that were floating around in the class.
I always had a formal evaluation at the end of the course because I was required to, but the real feedback was that information I collected during the course. I had the students give me feedback on 5x7 cards after assignments, case studies, projects, etc. All comments were anonymous. These really helped me to reassign or reformat my requirements when I needed to or they reinforced the fact that I was making the right kind of assignments.
Gary
I agree that great retention is achieved by all students remembering why education is so important, why each class is so important and why each lesson is so important.
Rrelating each lesson or class back to the students over-all goals is very important for the teacher to do.
Instructors can become aware of an effective retention strategy by asking experts in the field or asking teachers who have been in the business for a long time. Taking a class like this one online or a seminar is another great way to learn new strategies.
On the topic of physical comfort, what are some examples of a classroom setting that would be appropriate for an introduction to computers class?
Dr. Meers,
I find that simple communication with students concerning course material and relevance during the course proves to be more beneficial to me and the students than formal evaulations at the conclusion of the course. Your comments please.
Jim
Our registrar periodically publishes a list with the reason for each student drop or withdrawal. By studying these lists of reasons and becoming aware of their early symptoms as they become apparent in students, it provides an opportunity to help mitigate some of these problems. A few of the major retention troublemakers include child care, transportation, sickness, family problems, work hour changes, and a few of other similar issues. Many of us have solved similar problems, and by being aware, focusing on each problem, listening, advising, and sometime lending a helping hand, we can make an important difference for the student. A good resolution to many of these problems often allows students to continue their education.
Hi Joseph,
You are correct about not really receiving the feedback you need for instructional improvement. The key is how many students you have at the end of the phase, just as you stated. What you need to know is what did I do to keep them engaged in the learning process to the point they stayed and acquired the skills needed to succeed.
At my school we have a formal standardized course/instructor evaluation form that gives the school and DOE the needed numbers. This form helps me in a general sort of way in terms of knowledge about how I am doing as an instructor. The real key for me in instructor evaluation is my own form that I have developed called “Strands of Strengthâ€. This evaluation for was developed by me for me. It gets at what I want to know so I can do a better job as an educational professional. I also, use 5x7 cards upon which students write comments about assignments, case studies, etc. This really helps me to identify those items that are successful and those that I won't use again. The feedback cards are anonymous so get real candid responses. I continually try to introduce new strategies and activities into my courses and the feedback cards enable me to know if what I have selected as being worthwhile really is in the eyes of my students.
Gary
Are your students staying? I believe this is the best way we know what we are doing is effective.
We have surveys at our school but too often the students merely have a confused look on their face when answering. We have made ourselves so politically correct we no longer get positive feedback. These forms only ask for a number value and perhaps a comment or two and are not valued. We need opinions not numbers. I think my school does a great job trying but corporate and the DOE wants things done in a standard easy to tabulate way. We take it on a personal level.
Hi Pamela,
Your suggestions of keeping open the channels of communication between your students is a good one. This way you should be able to keep on top of any boiling or emerging problem within the classroom.
A suggestion of something you might want to try is the use of feedback cards. I use 5 x 7 cards for student feedback or the raising of issues on a frequent basis. Example, when I have the student complete and hand in an assignment, I have them fill out a card on how the viewed and valued to assignment. The students do not put their names on them so they can be honest in their opinions. I feel that these cards really help me to fine tune my course requirements. These cards are in addition to the course evaluations I and my school conduct for each of my courses.
Hope this is of help to you.
Gary
