I believe that effective retention strategies must be an overall combined effort of the college that the student is attending.
Having a few good Instructors that the student is engaged with and that student can identify with is a plus, that may keep that student going to the same college for a while. To keep them in that college it takes the campus as a whole to keep and retain the student. It takes a whole village to raise a child, the same with college it takes a team of educators, ancillary personnel, and an entire college community behind a student to keep them coming back to that college. A student has so many options today.
John,
Students love to hear stories from the field. When you share these stories from your past you are increasing the value of the content because you are showing your students both relevancy and application. So keep on sharing!
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I often recount my own personal experiences in the field. I try to relay these experiences to the course at hand and integrate that experience into the class.
Robert,
For sure because these examples reinforce the value of the content that is being offered.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I would love to see a list of strategies with exemplars to apply in my classes, to help increase my repertoire.
I also think that being able to shear experinces in the of study that the students are involved in makes it make more sence
Nutisha,
For sure. You have to keep the class interesting or you are going to start to have class management issues.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Allowing the class to be interesting is always a strategy.Student do not like coming to boring classes.
Joseph,
Working with such a student right now. Seems like these types of students are getting more frequent. I talk privately with the student and listen to their reason for being late and then explain that by being late the student is telling the other students that they have no value since they are expected to wait until he or she shows up to start the class or interrupt the class by walking in. The other point is that by coming in late I as the learning leader am being disrespected because the student does not consider anything I have to say as being important. This talk generally gets results but I also put the student on contract in that I let him or her know that if they are late for another class they will be dismissed from the course. I let them know I take being on time serious and I will not let anyone disrupt the learning of others so it is their choice to be on time or leave the course. If that student misses class or comes in late I do remove them from the course. I haven't removed a student for several years because my reputation proceeds me via former students which is exactly what I want.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Occasionally I get a student who falls into a pattern of coming in late and missing my first lecture or tech demo of the day. This is a frustrating behavior I try to get past this by asking the student why they are chronically late. If they seem to have a legitimate issue I try to work with them and maybe even refer them to the type of counseling that can help but sometimes I get a "ya know I just wasn't into it" kind of answer...
I try not to take it personal but its hard not to take this kind of response as a kind of disrespect coming from the student.
And my question is how far should I go in terms of retention for a student who holds this kind of attitude?
Jose,
Students need to see relevancy and application in what is being taught. The more we can do that the more value students will associate with the course. As you mention practical examples are a great way to do this.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Michelle,
Good strategy because the students have made a major decision to enroll and prepare in a career area. This is big in their lives and they need to see that their instructor is there and willing to help them if they are willing to put in the required effort.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
To help students retain the material covered in class it is useful to have a lot of practical examples where students can apply the concept just learned in the class. Practical application is a good method to make student use the new skills.
I have found that emphazing how they have taken the initiative to be here. Be in school, and want to change there lives really gives them a different prespective and makes them reflect and really want to stay. Want to learn. Want to change.
Reza,
Right you are. What are some way you do this for your students/
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Retention can be made by encouraging students and if they feel it is right course and right instructor and satisfy in class.
Gregrey,
The more feedback you can offer them the better. This way they will be current on their status in the class as well as the areas that they need to focus on to continue to be successful and grow in the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Keeping students up to date with their class grades and what they need to do to pass the class. Showing them that youcare about them succeeding in there career choice are a couple things that I use to keep the students coming back to class
Dana,
Humor is an essential teaching tool. Without I'm not sure where most of us instructors would be. A shared laugh goes a long way in helping to develop rapport with a student as well as helping that student to see that he or she can share with the instructor issues that may be bearing down upon them and their ability to stay in school.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe adding humor and real life applications are great retention strategies. I also think something simple as listening works too. Some of our students dont have a support system and just need someone to look up to and talk to.
