Lora,
Well said and an important part of being the learning leader for our students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Earl,
I think it is number one with many of our students. The relationship we form with them can be the factor that keeps them in school when they have a rough patch that comes along in their lives.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Students need to know that you are real, a regular person just like them. It's okay to make mistakes in front of your students.
I feel the human factor is important to retention. If the students feel comfortable it seems that they will express there concerns. It will help the lesson be received.
Casey,
This is such a critical part of the teaching process. Students need to see you in a light that shows you care about them and their success. The more you can do this the more involved they will be in the class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Because the student wants to feel like he is needed and not just like another person in the room.
The human factor is essential in establishing a well balanced and successful class. If the care and fairness are present, students will fall in line as well as respect you as a professional in the given field. Not that this is always put on display in every class period; teachers do have good and bad days, just like anyone else. But ultimately students will pick up on these signals quite easily and it can make or break a class for the instructor based on the human factor.
all of us start the day with personal issues that can cloud our attention and focus.
Laszlo,
This is how the connection is made between the instructor and the students. You are earning their respect while developing rapport with them. This is what makes teaching so much fun.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Michael,
The human factor is what makes teaching rewarding. Getting to work with students and seeing them grow in their career development is what keeps us coming back to the classrooms and labs over and over. Having an impact on the life of a student is a wonderful feeling that brings the human factor into play repeatedly.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
To some of my students it "was the highlight of the course";-)
There is no better reward as a "motivator" to really see a student genuinely motivated by something you bring to the class each day (other than the lecture and lab).
The human factor is very important in retention in that the student must not only respect the expertise of the instructor, but must also feel comfortable enough with the instructor to ask questions and request assistance, when needed.
The human factor also makes the teaching experience more cogenial, which will have the net effect of information being shared, not just a one sided information flow.
Kathleen,
Passion for one's field and enthusiasm for teaching about it goes a long way in getting students engaged. Your comments really zero in just how important the human factor is in keeping students focused on their coursework and career progress.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Jacquelin,
I do to. These informal chats with students before class are so valuable in reading the mood of the class and getting to know the students as individuals. Use of their names sends a real clear message of respect because as you say they see that you see them as individuals.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
To me, this is VERY important. I have been so lucky to have teachers throughout my life who genuinely cared about what they were teaching and the students they were teaching. These instructors have inspired me and really influenced who I am as a teacher. In my opinion, the "human factor" is essential or the student may as well just learn from a text book. The benefit to being a part of a classroom environment is having someone to give you feedback, to support you and cheer you on when you succeed and to offer constructive criticism when someone misses the mark. Also, the :human factor" is contagious. (As is enthusiasm.) When the teacher cares, the class does too.
I find that when you use the students names they grow a lot of respect for you because you are treating them as a fellow human instead of a minion. I think it is really important to remember to communicate with each student daily before class.
Jerry,
This is where I have arrived as well though I did some real in-depth reflecting during the process because I wanted and still want to reach everyone of them, even if impossible.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Thanks, Gary!! This is a very difficult yet important lesson - especially when the student expects the teacher to perform some miracle that downloads the information directly into their brain without them exerting any effort. I've dealth with this kind of student in all of the schools where I have taught. It is hard not to internalize and get upset when the student simply stops putting in any effort. I continue to be positive and encouraging with the student, but no longer take it personally when they do not put in the effort.
Karlee,
I would start by talking with that student individually and trying to get a "read" on why that student is down on him or herself. That will give you a starting point for helping them reflect on the positive aspects of their life. If that does not work I would put that student into a small group setting to work on a common problem. Enthusiasm is catching so that student may catch it from the other members of the group. A final note is that some students will not respond to anything and are not reachable. As hard as that is to say it is true. When I have such a student I continue to engage him or her in the class and try to support them in anyway I can but in the end their success or failure is their choice.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree although I have had some challenges with students that do not accept positive reinforcement. How do you get that one who is always down on themselves not to bring down the group?
