Shirley,
You have a very comfortable and supportive style. I know this really makes an impact on your students. They need this kind of effort from instructors when they are feeling like they are unable to continue in school.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I think one way to help with student retention is to let your students know that you truly care about them when they are absent. Call them on the first day that they are absent from your class and let them know that you missed them and that you truly care that they wasn't there.
Also let them know that you are concerned about them and you want to see them be successful and the only way that this will happen is if they stay in school and do the work and keep up the grades.
That you are there for them if they need you. I give them my cell number, and I am in class at least 20 minutes early taking roll, and talking to each student personally and letting them see the other side of me. If they see that you really care then they are more likly to stay in school and talking to you when they need help.
I never thought about this aspect, I know that numbers often intimidate some of the students.
the instructors have the biggest influence towards the students retention.. and our method of teaching that is meaningful to them increase the retention ....
I think that this is very effective or a very effective approach.
Margaret,
Knowing you are there for them and they can access you easily is a very important part of student support. Faculty are the link to keeping students in school so the more we can do the more we will keep.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I agree, It is up to us as Instructors to help the students stay in school. At the start some students find it hard as they may have been out of School for sometime. I always make sure my students can talk to me or reach out to me by e-mail anytime they sre hsving s difficult time in class.
Margaret Clarke
The most important aspect of retaining information is to be in class and then do a little homework. As an instructor I can help to provide the appropriet information and hand it out accordingly.
James,
Students will drop out no matter what we do but it always makes me sad to lose one. We need to do all we can to support and encourage potential school leavers. Everyone retained is another person moving forward toward their career goals.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Joseph,
Well said and right on point. Thanks for your comments.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
John,
I would set up appointments with all of the students during the office hours. These appointments would only need to be a few minutes, say 10 minutes the purpose being getting to know them better. Once you have worked through them the students that are having problems in the course will be more comfortable coming in. If you are in class before it starts and chat with the students so you are seen as being approachable will help with them coming in as well.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I've always taken pride in making sure students are not intimidated by me.
As an associate registrar, I work in concert with faculty to manage retention. On a daily basis, I manage an attendance report and contact at-risk students. Many faculty members take the time to reach out to their students by e-mail or phone; however, others do not take the initiative to contact their students who may be withdrawn do to non-attendance. In our business unit, classes are 6 weeks in length, and some instructors do not see the value in motivating a student to complete the class strong or seek advice from the registrar to learn of possible options. By observing FERPA, faculty and administration may work with other stakeholders such as parents or other individuals with special access to the student record to better engage the student.
I have reviewed numerous submissions in this forum and the content is consistent. Each one by itself is an excellent tool to put in your instructional arsenal for student retention.
Life has a way of getting in the way, more so with the student population as they all have destinations in mind with a time frame to make it in.
When a student starts to 'slip' and you recognize that not only are they having trouble getting their work complete, but they have holistically 'given up', this presents a perfect opportunity for the instructor.
Take a moment or two with that student and have them reflect on what their original goals were when they enrolled. Establish if those goals are the same or if they have changed. Either way, help them refigure their direction to obtain those goals.
Have them become part of their solution instead of just doing the typical 'guidance counselor' approach and TELLING them what they need to do.
I think I have this problem as well. I generally believe I have an easy-and-laid-back approachable personality, but then I sometimes wonder why not many students come in and take advantage of my office hours.
I try to think back to being a student myself, and yes, the idea of going to see the instructor one-on-one, especially when you've gotten behind or are having difficulties with a topic can be very intimidating.
What are some good approaches to encouraging more students to come in and take advantage of these hours? The more of them who are willing to come in, the more of them I will be able to retain.
Shauna,
Good point about paying attention to student frustrations. They exist so we need to acknowledge them and then move on so the frustrations don't take over the class and stop learning progress.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
We have to pay attention to our students frustration. Effective Retention Strategy is to involve the student with your teaching techniques. If we involve the students and not just teach at them they will be more excited about coming to class and finishing their career goals.
Gina,
This is so important in helping students to feel a part of the class. Struggling students may feel they have no future in the class and when you stop to talk with them and give some words of encouragement you are reinforcing the fact you think they can be successful. This is a powerful motivator.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
The more you are involved in your students the more you will receive from them.
If a student is having issues with certain subject matter I offer tutoring to bring them up to speed.
There have been times when I notice a student that is usually focused become unfocused so I try on break or after class to make a point to talk to them.
Clevatrice,
All three good strategies for us to remember as we approach the classroom. We need to be aware of how we are being perceived by the students and work hard to show them that we care about them as human beings in addition to being students. This connection really helps to keep them engaged in the learning process.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
