I think that the human factor is very important to student retention because every student has things going on in their life, outside of school. If things are going good in their life, and no one trys to help them, then dropping out of school is the easiest solution for most of them.
The human factor is very important in retaining students. All students need to feel comfortable to be ready to learn. Students cannot concentrate if they are nervous and do not know what to expect.
The human factor is crucial in student retention, even more so in an on-line setting because it is easy for students to feel as though that an instructor is unfeeling or uncaring and therefore easy for them to feel as though it isn't important if they get behind or fail to turn in assignments. If students don't feel as if an instructor cares about them personally, they are less likely to care about the course and thus not do as well and get frustrated about their grade. Continued frustration will lead to them dropping out of a program or school altogether.
It is important for our students to see us as not only educators or authorities but as humans too. They need to realize that we too have faced our share of road blocks in our own lives and we are proof that these things can be resolved and worked through. They need to know that we are there to offer information on how to move some of those road blocks and to assist them in their educational goals as much as possible.
each and every students has individual needs, being able to meet each of their needs will help them to have the sense of belonging and want to come everyday
The human factor is extremely important in retention. Students need to know that the instructor is there to help them. They need to feel apart of the class. I find that if they are allowed to work in small groups or even pairs when working more difficult problems they tend to be more successful. Some students can explain a process in a way that the student understands better then the method I used. Student's love to have attention and be recognized. I try to get all students involved even in the simpilist methods. The human factor makes good instructors better.
Hi Mary,
Well said. Many times we instructors can get so caught up in the different aspects of teaching that we don't listen as we should. By listening we are learning plus showing our students respect and this in turn helps us to develop rapport with our students.
Gary
The human factor is very imporant. No one likes to be ignored. Everyone wants to feel like their effort is being recognized.When we as instructors make the students feel as though we are listening and that we are actively engaged with their progress and their journey as students, every
person benefits.
The human factor is vital in student retention. A kind, caring instructor can and does make all of the difference in the world. Students want their needs to be met, and this often goes beyond just the educational aspect. By providing a sympathetic ear and even some sound advice, instructors can give students coping skills that allow them to better deal with issues that could be potential barriers to their education. Also, students are much more likely to try 'harder' for an instructor they relate to and respect and providing that level of humanity to the educational process is a necessary part of the equation.
Hi Karen,
Well done. Little gestures like the greeting and inquiry build up to rapport which leads to increased student involvement and desire to be successful.
Gary
I teach night class, and if a student arrives at class early I always address each student by name. I then ask how his/her week has been. That gives me an overall sense of how productive a student's learning skills will be for that class session.
When I know my students by paying attention to them and noticing when something is amiss, I can quickly intervene to offer assistance or refer them to resources that can help them succeed. This kind of attentiveness has the potential to increase retention by catching a problem in the beginning stages rather than it becoming an insurmountable problem for the student to do well in their studies.
The human factor is especially important for adult learners. Why would an adult chose to go back to school if they were going to be treated like they were in high school all over again? I like to share simple personal things about myself during the first day of class so they can see that I am a person too. I tell them about my family and my dogs and I ask them to share with me why they decided to come back to school and something about their families or pets.
Hi Robert,
Career success is based upon the ability of people to get along in the work place. These are essential "soft skills" that every person needs to have. You make a good point about the need to develop these skills in your students and are doing it by bringing in speakers to reinforce what you are teaching. This shows students relevancy and application to key parts of the learning process.
Gary
I have a saying that I have picked up along the way, “ Relvance to culture in not an option†. Students or anyone who is going to listen and learn from someone must feel that the speaker is relvant to them. That the speaker cares enough to make there talks relvant to them. Part of doing this is to conncet to them as people. The human factor is in someways more important then the lesson plan itself.
Hi Donna,
Well said. The human factor has to be a part of what we share with our students. By knowing we care and will support them in their efforts the students create a connection between us and their success which helps them mover closer to their career goals.
Gary
Again, having a background as a therapist, I have always felt that the human factor impacted instructional success and therfore student retention. We can no longer deny the mind/body connection and how important our self-esteem is to success. For many students, especially first generation college students, it is the first time that they feel their 'voices' have been heard...and that they 'are' somebody.
Hi Dr. Kim,
So true in relation to your point from Dr. Freud. It seems that we are being overtaken more all the time by the very institutions that are suppose to help us be successful. This is why the human factor has to be a part of our instructional effort.
Gary
I agree. Nothing is more important than Human Factor, especially in a large class in a large institution. As Freud points out in his seminal book (Civilization and Its Discontent), we create institutions originally so that they can serve us, humans. However, given time, the institutions demand we serve them, eventually, forgetting the original idea why we have created them in the first place.
Dr. Kim
The human factor is equally important to the content of the course, in my opinion. If there is no human factor, students will shut down and the information you are discussing will fall on deaf ears. Also, if the human factor is faked in any way or not genuine, this will have the same effect.
