The human factor in retention is the most important factor relating to retention. Students face many challenges in the process of their education. Student in a program setting of education have the flow of the program,as well as, life issues to deal with. This creates pressure for students and sometimes the only encouragement or solutions they see to their problems is from their instructor who knows them and can help them see things differently. It is encouraging to hear the instructor have confidence in the student and let them know that they are not the only one who has ever had to overcome theses challenges.
Kathy,
Your comment made me smile because for me this is the fun part of being a teacher. I get to work with students and help them move closer to their career goals and in the process I get to be a human being about it. Smiling, talking and listening are three elements I try to incorporate each time I interact with students. In addition, I get paid to teach about something I love. This is a win win situation for me.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Billy,
This is one of the fun parts of teaching and that is finding that combination of learning opportunities that will engage a student and help him or her achieve their career goals.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Over the years I have found that I learned the most from instructors who treated me as a person, and those I wasn't afraid to get near! Calling students by their first names, SMILING, and the intonation of voice have a lot to do with creating a positive human factor in the classroom.
Kathy
All students like to learn and with that understanding, teachers should find ways to assit each student to experience learning through proper teaching methods.
Understand everyone likes to learn and the teacher should predicate that by finding the right formula for each student to experience the joy of learning.
Michael,
Very good point and listening as well as observing needs to be a part of what we do each and every time we work with students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It's important because our job is to teach "humans" new career skills. It is not enough to just master good classroom teaching skills. We need to be good observers so we can ensure our students can maximize those skills we are teaching.
Rosemary,
Things like student interaction really help to increase the respect and rapport development with students. From there it is a building process throughout the rest of the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The human factor is one of the key components to retention. Understanding and practicing principles of good customer service is essential to the success of any business. Greeting students at the door by name as they arrive to class is an excellent way to show students that you care about them and it is a good way to set the tone for your class session.
Rebecca,
Good point and one I appreciate you making so early in your teaching career. You have the career experience and now get to share that experience with students. By showing your human side and connecting that side with the content you are teaching you have set the stage for student success. I wish you much success as you share both your personality and professionalism with your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I am a very new instructor, though I have over 13 year experience within my field. The human factor, in my opinion is what seperates good teachers from bad ones. In a career school environment, we have to show them respect and also the importance of what they are learning, or they will be out the door. I have found that the personal touch to each and every student makes them feel important and gives them the self belief that they can do this.
Carlos,
The personal approach by an instructor creates both respect and rapport with students. These are what keeps students coming back to class session after session.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Adriel,
This is the human side of being an educator and it is just as important as the content we share.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Javier,
Right you are and something we need to remember each time we step into a classroom or lab.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe it is the number one thing to focus on. The student becomes a more successful student when he or she sees they are not just a number, but a person who wants to learn and becoem successful at whatever his or her career is.
I noticed that paying attention to my students circumstances helps improve feedback during absences, assignments and projects. Students will call me and that eliminates the problem of long absences and late projects.
The Human Factor in Retention is very important in my professional opinion, because at the end of the day, it boils down to one human instructor teaching one human student.
Tim,
Using a quote of the day is a good way to start a class and get the students thinking about what they have just heard. You are warming them up and getting them ready for the class that is to come.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I also agree about the Human Factor being vital. I have found that a friendly attitude and demeanor makes you more approachable and for the students gives them the feeling that you will be an empathetic advocate for them. I often times start the session with a Weird World Fact (WWF) and ask students for their thoughts. It is a great way for them to think critically as well as break the ice for the session. In 2013 I am thinking about a quote of the day to do the same thing.
