Joyce,
I teach from 4 until 10 pm so I can relate to your situation. Keeping them engaged is a challenge but an even bigger one is to get them to class. It is a struggle and we lose some. When we do have students leave us we are all sad but then we reset our thinking and get our focus back on those students we have and how we can help them be successful in our courses.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Very. Students want to feel capable and involved in their success. I've found that even students who are lower achieving want to feel like they are achieving. To be able to help them actually do so is to teach them skills that will exceed the simple subject material application.
I teach welding classes, and we have 1 hour a day in the classroom and 4 hours in the welding lab. It is extremely difficult to make the students see the classroom time as a valuable part of there program, because the "hands on" training in welding is the most valuable. On day one, we emphasize that what they learn in class is relavent to what they do in the lab. The younger students tend to be ok with this, where the older students just want to go to the lab and work, because work is what they are used to. I have found that letting them share their life experiences in the class as it relates to the lessons does get them more motivated to be in the classroom.
This seems like an excellent response to the problem. I teach adult evening students and retention is a major problem. I get frustrated with students that don't come to class, maybe some of the ideas I've been reading about will work. Yet there's always one or two that can not get to class due to family problems or illness or work situations. These students are the ones that eventually leave the program.
Kevin,
Good way to keep all of your students engaged. You are using their life experiences to build upon the course content so each student can see what he or she has to contribute to the class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Kevin,
This is a good point and one that needs to be remembered as we interact with students. It may take a while for some students but in the long term most will see the value of what you are doing and how it will impact their lives.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I like that statement.When I was a student it definately was. I try to keep them on a track of innovation so they are awlays learning something new even if they already posess a lot of life experience.
I do not think anyone likes to be treated as just a "number". Creating a good collaborative bond with students certainly helps with retention. although, I have noticed some students will have priorities and circumstances where it does not seem to make an impact in the short term. I think the good connection can help with retention over the long term.
Karen,
This type of improvement is a constant. We need to always be striving to be better as educators. Your attitude and effort are both going to help you be the instructor of merit that you want to be. I wish you continued success!
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I had never thought of teaching this way. I think this is a great way to motivate yourself to present good information in a way that engages the students. I have had classes that I loved to go to and those that I dreaded. I need to work harder to make my classes more exciting--not that they are horrible now. I just want to continue improving. Great thought!
Cheryl,
The human factor is why many of us are instructors. Being able to help students move toward their career goals and provide support at times when needed for success has a powerful impact on the lives of our students. Your points are right on target.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The human factor is very important in retention. Not only can we acknowledge and help with things that might drive a student away, but everyone needs to know they are important. They have to feel like someone else believes in them because they might not even believe in themselves. I have seen students that believed they couldn't make it and then after a few positive and encouraging comments turned not only their attitude, but their grades around. Telling them they can do it works!
Arlene,
Right you are about the support element. Often instructor support and encouragement is the difference between staying in or leaving school. Our students frequently have challenges outside of the classroom that really impact their ability to stay in school. Knowing they have instructor support helps them to see that they can continue in school and move toward their career goals.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Ellen,
Being supportive, available and professional really helps students to get settled into a new course. Knowing that they can develop a relationship with their instructor and he or she will provide them with needed supports if they will put forth the needed effort goes a long way in retaining a student in the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Janell, this has been my experience as well. Students with life challenges have returned to school to create an opportunity for themselves. Often their challenges in life are still in their way and often students need a little extra support to manage them so they could move on to learning so they can overcome the obstacles. Arlene
I feel the human factor is critically important. In my experience, students that have financial or family challenges struggle with focus and completing tasks and/or their assignments. Being supportive and understanding allows the student to refocus with the support they need to learn. Arlene
Most students need to feel accepted and that they are important to instructors which gives them more accoutablility to themselves by staying in school.
That's absolutely true, Gary.
We all succeed as people with identity and considerateness. It's natural in families, and teachers help growth in academic and career families. Though the functions are more conceptual or commercial, our DNA still says Human.
In my experience students are much more engaged when they feel a personal connection with the teacher-not as a friend , but as a caring and concerned professional who genuinley wants the student to succeed. Verbal suppport and encouragemnment is so important for students who are struggling with day care issues, money issues, and low grades. A caring instructor can help students by directing them to the appropriate resources, such as tutoring, or students services, where they can get the help they need to succeed.
This is extremely important. The student needs to feel excited about coming to class. That is a big factor in their success.
