I always tell my students that class should be their high light of the day. This is the time to put other things on the back burner and focus on the future.
Katessa,
Right you are about the value of the human factor component in teaching. Caring and supportive instructors are the foundation of student retention.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Mark,
I agree and the human factor is an essential component for successful teaching. The students need to know they have a person of experience and ability that cares about their success as an instructor.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The Human Factor means a lot to many people. In particular at my current facility, students thrive off of instructors who are genuinely more caring, approachable, and helpful. There are times when students may have ongoing issues that affect them within the classroom and if they do not feel that their instructor cares enough about their production and success, they may quit and never return to the classroom.
By simple knowing a student's name, possibly something personal about them (i.e. about a spouse, children, or how they like to fish, etc.) if they are asked about those things occassionally, it makes them feel like the instructor looks at them like a person and not just another number or student that is passing through their class.
Treating students with compassion and generosity helps them to want to stay involved in a classroom and more so involved with their education.
I believe the human factor is one of the most important in student retention. If a student does not feel a connection to the school or faculty members they will not succeed and thus drop out of the school.
I agree that this is important because students feel that if you are fair and caring, that you believe in them and is another support system for their success and this empowers them to stay motivated and work hard at being successful.
Everyone has the basic human need of being respected. If an individual doesn’t feel the institution respects them as an individual, then we have failed as an institution, and will fail in retaining that individual.
Our Educational facility is small enough to give students the personal touch, I have found this very positive in my tuition.
It keeps students interested and engaged in the learning process
If you do not show interest or respect for your students you can not expect any in return. This makes a poor learning atmosphere that neither student or instructor cares about.
Students are individual learners, udnerstanding the individual will better help you prepare in how to relate and teach information to them
Kenneth,
Your last sentence puts it all together. This sentence describes what I try to bring to my classes each time I teach. I am honored to be able to share my experience and knowledge with the next generation of individuals entering my field. This is my legacy.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Kenneth,
I to had a great serious of dynamic instructors throughout my career. I also had some very poor instructors but the great ones overcame the poor ones in terms of my personal learning and professional growth. I will always be remember the impact they had on my carer and my life.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
The Human Factor Dr. Meers is a key element and leads to the success and enjoyment of learning along with the health of the student. Learning should be fun and exciting driven by enthusiastic and pationate instructors.
Agree with your point and the need for instructors to make students feel like class is the high point of the day. That is how I felt in my educational experience and often miss the opportunity class previously offered.
Candace,
Well said. Many younger students have grown up with a sense of entitlement and hand holding. As a result they don't want to or won't work through life situations that impact their learning. They need to develop skills that will enable them to problem solve and cope with life challenges while still being successful in school and work.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
The life issues are a big concern for the adult learner. Often, the instructor wants to solve the problem for the student but that cannot be. Part of the learning experience for the adult learner is to think problems through and come up with a solution on their own.
Dennis,
Well said. To do any less is to be unfair to the students and our profession of teaching. We must bring our A game to the class each time we enter the room.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
If you as an instructor, cannot demonstrate every day, that sharing what you know with these students is the clearly your passion, it would be unfair to expect 100% return on learnibg from them.
Miriam,
Knowing they have support is important for students and their success. If they are willing to put forth the needed effort then they can be successful using the supports. Everybody is a player in the the success formula.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
