Clear Expectations and Consistency
While there are many ways we can enhance and impact student retention the two key methods for me are setting clear expectations for the students at the outset and being consistent in supporting those expectations throughout the class. The one other method that has helped me personally over the years is continuing to be a better listener. So often, the student just wants to know someone is willing to listen to their problems.
Melonie,
You have made a number of very good points about how to support students. Your last sentence really captures what it is all about. Helping them meet their personal goals. This is why our job is so important, we are impacting lives in many different ways. We need to be prepared and ready to do this each time we meet with students.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I have a road map in my head for what the students need to achieve and the time frame for which we have to achieve it. I also have a rough idea of how much time during each session we are going to be able to devote to learning these skills/tools. I need to not just "KNOW" this but to "SHARE" the learning objectives/sequences with my students. It is more likely that the students will make an attempt to stay on task/make initiative/be motivated/plan for...if they know where they are going. They also find it helpful to understand how much is realistic for them to be expected to learn in a certain timeframe and this helps relieve feelings of being overwhelmed. As an Instructor, I hope that I have helped to set the road map, expectations of effort and learning and identified the goal for which we are embarking on the journey in the first place. (Hopefully their motivation for learning)
For example hiking. If I am a leader and have planned out the time/path/schedule for the day. What good does it for me to keep it to myself and get dissappointed when the hiker's following me "get behind" so to speak. Or miss opportunities....and they don't seem to even realize it!
Why do I assume that they will meet the plans/expectations that I have in my head? Can they read my mind? They may not recognize the distance needed to travel to complete the goal for the day and get back to the car in time. They may not anticipate the treasures along the way that they have an opportunity to see (such as waterfalls, picnic areas, wildlife ect.,)
If the people have a leader who has mapped/planned it all out and has shared specific information needed for making choices and for reaching goals successfully--they can have a chance to give it their best effort!
The hiker's have more options and choices about what they want to accopmlish and how much effort they want to put into it. We have opportunity to share goals desires and expectations and then we all know what to anticipate from each other and have less chance for dissapointments/frustration.
Also, Many adult people are not motivated by blind faith and moment by moment instruction. Sometimes they need more information to decide for themselves whether they want to take the journey and how much energy they want to put into it and for what reasons...Empower them! Help them meet their personal goals.
I do agree with you on clear expectations. If you aren't clear with the student on what you expect from them in the beginning of the course you will probably not get from them what you are looking for as far as a student goes.
