Just simply listening to and acknowledging their frustrations with compassion and understanding makes a big difference.
Michael,
Wow! This is why we teach. Thank you for sharing this email with us. I know these words are encouraging to you and gives you reason to further increase your interaction, support and enthusiasm needed to be a learning leader to and for your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I heard the phrase years ago that "Students won't always remember how much you know but they will always remember how much you care." Below is a email I received from one of my students this morning, what a great way to start the day.
Mr. Riel,
I wanted to thank you for our conversation that we had almost two weeks ago. I am still interested in this program and will make sure to perform duties as needed to be successful in this class. You make me feel important and your genuine concern is warming in an otherwise difficult daily routine I have. I appreciate the kind words and the new motivation in the program. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Well said. I agree that student's have so many different reasons for dropping out of their programs. Instructors play an important role in identifying issues and developing a plan with and for the student. Communication and follow up is an important part to consider in reference to the human factor in retention.
Janice,
They sure do. They cannot imagine that you have set where they are sitting and that you had life challenges that you overcome as you were progressing through your classes. It is important that they know so they can understand that you understand about them.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
HOWARD,
This is what earning their respect and developing rapport is all about. You are impacting their lives and helping them see a future for themselves.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Students often forget that you were students once upon a time. I find sharing some of my experiences help relieve some of the stress
I feel the closer your students are to you the more you will be able to get them to learn. They become more like your extended family
Stanley,
Thank you for these good comments about how to enhance student retention. You are right about the important role faculty plays in retaining students. They are the connection between the college as a whole and the student as an individual within the college. They are the face of the college and as a result play a critical role in helping students to keep moving forward in their carer development.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Retention of students is greatly affected by the level and quality of their interactions with peers as well as instructors . Reasons for students dropping out include academic difficulty, adjustment problems, lack of clear academic and career goals, lack of commitment, retention can be highly affected by enhancing student interaction with campus personnel. It is the instructors who come face-to-face with students on a day to day basis who provide the positive growth experiences for students .The caring attitude of the instructor or teacher can be viewed as the most potent retention force on a campus
Angela,
This approach is so important because knowing that their learning leader cares about them as individuals and is there to support them goes a long way in keeping them in school. This is what the human factor is all about in teaching.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Many of my students are going through difficulties outside of class that affect their class performance. When I notice a student is not performing up to their normal standards or not as engaged as normal, I try to pull them aside and talk to them. Often I find that just knowing that I am willing to listen to what is going on outside of class helps them re-engage in the class material. I find students want acknowledgement that they have lives outside of school.
Bonnie,
Great advice for instructors to remember as they prepare to start a new class. They need to project the human factor of caring so students will see they do in fact care and this sets the stage for a successful class to come.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I like the quote: " People don't care about what you know, they want to know that you care."
It is so important to me to let the students know that I sincerely care about them as individuals. I care about their life struggles and try to understand how that affects their ability to concentrate and to learn. I like to express this by showing interest, lending a listening ear, and a word of encouragement when I can. This is how I like to be treated. It is the Golden Rule, treat others how you like to be treated. It works!
It is very important.
"Stuff happens" in everyone's lives, and has to be taken into consideration.
When it comes down to being hard and fast on a rule--such as late turn in of assignments--sometimes a student can be cut some slack.
While they need to do their work, and if an instructor is not careful about it, he will be taken advantage of, it is a good policy to look at the circumstances and adjust requirements accordingly.
Connecting to each student and letting them know that you will do everything in you power to support their continued goal is monumental to their motivation and continued effort. I often include something fun followed of substance. Every student has good and bad times which an instructor must navigate back to goals. Instructors ability to incorporate a human factor can assist in the students redirect.
The human factor is crucial in retaining students. Students need to feel that they are in a place that cares and respects their experiences they are bringing to class. Students need to know that the instructor is there to guide them and help them through the the course, but also need to know they will be responsible for taking advantage of what is in front of them.
Kyle,
This is one of the reasons I am a teacher. I really enjoy the human factor, which involves exchanges with students, supporting their learning efforts and seeing them be successful upon graduation. This is what our job is all about.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The human factor is incredibly important in student retention. When students feel like they are being cared for by the school and their instructors it will make it much more difficult for them to leave the school.
Robert,
Being a role model and learning leader is such an important part of what we do as educators. We need to remember our roles as we interact with students and demonstrate what a person in our field should be like for our students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
