I believe that the human factor is crucial in student retention. I've found that even a smile goes a long way when it comes to developing a rapport with students. As stated in the course material, you really never know exactly what a student may be dealing with.
If we all act like robots then the responses will be like a robot. We need to keep students focused and wanting to learn. For most of my students they will not be going into my field of nursing (labor and delivery). However I do give them an antidote about what happened to a friend of mine who worked in a small community hospital and the only labor nurse called off sick and it was his turn to be called to Labor and Delivery. Much to his sergrine he ended up laboring a woman and he was so thankful that his instructor made him work just as hard as the women in his class that he was able to recall most of his knowledge and take care of this woman. When the students here about this they seem to take more notes and are engaging in class. When I have them at the hospital I do not give them a choice they all have to have at least 2 days on the labor and delivery unit.
Levon,
This is a very good point because this approach lets the instructor maintain the standards of the course and provide support to students as needed. If that student for one reason or another is not able to pass the course he or she knows that the instructor is there to help them should they return for another try at the course. This is so much better than just having the student walk out the door feeling that there was not way the could be successful in the course or school.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The Human Factor is very important to Student Retention. A sense of being wanted and knowing that this is the right place for them to be is very important. I make sure that every student from the first person entering the room to the last is greeted with a "Good Morning" and "How are you doing today". This gives them a sense of being wanted and that I acknowledge that they are there. When I lecture I open the floor to have students care their life experience with the classroom. I want them to take ownership of their education as an adult. So every student receives a calendar and homework log that is very user friendly with a clear understanding of what we are doing every day and what my expectation are for them.
Human factor is important in retaining students. If the student feels after failing the class that the teacher did his/her part, was supportive, trying the best to make the student to understand the material, then most likely that student will come back to repeat the same class with the same teacher... Generally, teachers who know how to teach are also very relaxed, with a good sense humor, easy to follow, which is a big plus in wanting the students to be in their class...
Bruce,
Key part of our student interaction. They need to know we care about them and their success. They also need to know that we will be supportive of them but they have to put forth the effort needed since it is their future that they are preparing for.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The human factor is, in my opinion the most important factor in student retention. If the student knows that we as an instructor believe they can be successful not only in our class but in life also, this can be the spark that ignites the fire in their life to be a winner.
Michelle,
As their learning leader you are in a great position to provide support and reinforcement to your students. You may be the first person in their lives that they have had the opportunity to get to know that is in an authority position and thus is able to help them move forward toward their career goals.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Everyone wants to feel needed. I feel as an instructor I may be the only one to offer support to my students. They may have no family or friends that are supportive. They may not be my best student but every little improvement or attempt for improvement must be told to the student
Sarah,
What a great tribute it would be to have such a saying on one's gravestone. It says so much about the dedication one has to the field of education. I commend you for your effort to bring this challenging group around. As you say some changed and some did not. It was their loss not to respond to their growth in terms of respect and human interaction.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
When I die, I would like to be worthy of the gravestone "She taught us how to look into another person's eyes and see a human being." My course is Verbal Communications and so the very subject matter involves the human factor. Everyday I go into my classroom I think to myself, how do I get to mold and shape potential today. What things do I need to let go of from the day before. As a teacher I struggle with the fine line of being too lenient or too strict. I just recently had a class that was totally divided and my goal is always to make them a team. It saddened me a bit that I could not crack a certain group. They had three months of bad habits to crack through. They have been known as a difficult class. In the face of adversity, I worked at remaining respectful and helping them move the marker even if it was a small movement on the educational line. For those that wanted change they got it. On these occasions you must work harder than ever on objectivity.
Sean,
This is a good point in that college students have chosen to pay tuition and enroll in the course they are taking. Yet many of them do no want to come to class or do the required work. They just want to purchase an A with their tuition. They feel entitled to get whatever they want. The real world does not operate that was as we know and this is a lesson they have to learn if they are going to have any career success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
You can lead the horse to water but you can't make him drink. A student has to want to better themselves before learning can occur. If an alcoholic wants to stop drinking, they have to want to stop first.
Leslie,
You are teaching such a critical course for your students. By keeping them engaged and coming back you are helping them to create a future for themselves. Without your courses they cannot move forward and you are helping them to realize that.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I teach GED classes 1/2 of my day, and the human factor is extremely important to keep my GED students coming back to class. They like to "see" that I also have dealt with some of the same issues they are dealing with and that I've prevailed. I share some of my personal experiences with my students as my class unfolds whether they are funny or sad. Of course there are some things we don't discuss, but I do want them to perceive me as a human capable of making and admitting to my mistakes and then finding a way to rectify them.
It is improtant to have repport with each student in your class. Students need to know that you care about them as a person and not just a student.I try to talk to each of my students in a personal but professional level to get to know how they really are.This lets me know what challanges I my be faceing with the students and how i can help them be seccessful.
Kurt,
Your last sentence says it all in terms of how the human factor impact student engagement. They do need to know you care and as a result you get a lot of reward from helping to shape their future career development.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As the old saying goes “they don’t care what you know until they know that you care†is huge for me. Just the simplicity of making it a point to call someone by their first name has great effects. each instructor personally calls any of their students that are absent that day. It makes the student feel that we really do care and in turn they try harder to make it to school. For me, the personal human factor is why I became a teacher in the first place!
Frank,
This is a very good perspective to share with students. They need to know it is up to them and they are not entitled to a grade just because they enrolled and paid tuition. They must earn their grades and create a future for themselves.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I like this . I feel that we always lie down ground rules and procedures and hold this "high standard" . But do we as instructors truly convey the message of ,.... this is what you make of it .You are in complete control. And you will reap the benefits of your hard work providing you truly apply yourself. Of course i'm here to help in any way possible
