Bridget,
I think it is good to do just that every once in a while. By putting yourself in their situation you can see how you can better assist them in the learning process.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I feel as an instructor you sometimes have to put yourself in the students place sit where they are sitting relate to there problems and life learnings
Kenisha,
Well defined and well said. This is a critical part of being an instructor as well as one of the fun parts. I greatly enjoy my students and the interaction I have with them. It is fun for me to help them move toward their career goals.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The Human Factor in Retention is extremely important. I've always been a firm believer in developing a healthy relationship with my students. Healthy in the since of care and concern but not trying to be their friend. We are to be professional role models by setting examples. Students need to know that we care and not come across as one who's collecting a pay check.
CAROL,
You make a number of very good points about why students are in school. I am amazed that we have to take attendance and follow up with students when they are paying $10,000 for the education we are offering. Never the less, we do because even though they are paying to go to school they forget sometimes why they are there.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Khayyam,
My experience as well. I couldn't wait to get back to their class so I could learn more. This is the kind of teacher I strive to be.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I understand that students are people.
They have feelings, opinions, thoughts, ideas and perceptions. In the college environment, students are adults! They have completed aspects of life and are now "paying good money" to receive education that will benefit them.
All of this is to say that students are adults who have made the decision to purchase education. As an instructor, I am responsible for engaging with them in a manner that delivers the education that they paid to acquire. I must be respectful and interested in these "customers" if I want them to return to my school to purchase more education.
I want them to be satisfied customers; that means I need to understand their objectives and to help them achieve their objectives. I need to understand them so that I will know how best to deliver and present the educational content. Different people have different reasons for taking my class. Different people have different experiences that will affect their learning. Different people have different interests and understanding of the course content that I will share. These differences are driven by HUMAN FACTORS (life experiences, self concepts, etc.). Effective instructors understand that these human factors affect the way each student receives the instruction that is provided. It is impportant to understand your students.
The best instructors I've had were those that were enthusiastic about the subject. They were animated and energetic. They made me excited to come to class. I try to do the same in my class. I attempt to present each topic with a passion. I do this even with theories that I disagree with since its important to look at issues from multiple angles in the social sciences.
Angela,
Good point and an essential part of what we are about as educators.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The human factor is critical in student retention. We are human and deserve to be acknowledged and respected. Being able to have a rapport with a student is based on our ability to relate to them thru the human aspect.
Jen,
This is part of the human side of teaching. Be knowing they have your support and that you will listen to them your students are showing their respect for you by coming to you with their questions and concerns. Together you all can work on solutions.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Brenda,
What a great influence and impact this on the lives of your students. You are creating a legacy of helping students to be successful in situations where the students thought success was not possible.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The human factor is very important in student retention. Students should feel that they can approach the instructor with issues that may be preventing them from doing well in the class. The instructor can then determine the next step for the success of the student - whether it be to refer them to a counselor or another school resource.
The socioeconomic environment of most of my students provides me with a tremendous opportunity to help change the lives of these students. Being able to find small ways to assist them through the daily challenges of their current environment and constantly providing an image of their potential future is my daily challenge. When these students successfully complete my classes they have reached a true milestone. They suddenly realize that they can obtain their goals of a life-changing career. Being constantly aware of each student's changing external challenges, daily offering encouragement and reinforcement, and employing various methods of presenting difficult material keeps me actively involved in the learning/teaching process and increases my teaching skills.
We must meet their needs and the only way to be successful is to remember the students have personal lives.
Dan,
What a great approach you have. You are integrating yourself into the total climate and environment of the school to the benefit of both your faculty and students. This is what being an educational leader is about.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This is one of the reasons why I have all the departments at our school spend as much time as possible with the students. Often, as a School Director I get into the classes or see students at break so I can get to know them and they me. If students feel safe at our school to not only learn, but to share their fears or challenges, we can better help them succeed while they are with us.
An instructor should really transform students into a safe world of freedom to speak views and work with others to accomplish their goals as they realate to course goals. The instructor should also be creative enough to make the class exciting with carryover to the next class challenges to keep the students coming back.
Daniel,
There is a balance that is needed in terms of interaction with students. You have outlined how they both need to be in place to help students to be successful. Good points, thank you for sharing them.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
No one wants to attend a cold, calculating testing machine college, obviously. In a creative educational group, to not understand the Human Factor would be akin to completely missing the message that each individual student communicates.
By that same token, students do appreciate the occasional strong personal input from the teacher that doesn't coddle them. Honesty works wonders.
