Retention, The Human Equation.
Course instruction and material in itself, will take care of itself. The vast majority of teachers/educators are well trained and professional at presenting their own course material. Student very rarely drop out of class due to this issue.
But the human side of the student is where the retention issue lays. I make it a point several times during the course to restrengthen the students core belief on why they started school and the rewards when they finish. What the course they are presently enrolled has to offer and the new skills they will have learned by completing the course. The greatest tool I have learnd for myself is what I call "Open Fridays". By opening up the class to speak whatever is on their minds often times allows the students to address issues that they are facing. More than likely, several of the students themselves have already addressed issues that others maybe facing and offer answers to problems at the students level. Thus allowing the instructor staff insights into problems that need to be confronted on the students behalf. Its a win, win for both student and teacher.
Please explain the concept of Open Friday.
Sometimes, having open discussion like this helps elminate some of the frustration a student might have and help them to better focus on the reason they are here to see a brighter future in staying instead of timing out or worse withdrawing from school. Open Friday is a good idea and I beleive it won't be an all day session. If we would take at least 30 minutes to help a student, then that's 30 minutes well worth it to get retention up.
Gary, In the capstone program I like to get involved with the students as they are working on assingments. This allows me to interact with them more closly to adress isues I may deem important to them.
Dave Cadmus
Do you ever find that students use "Open Friday" as a way to get you off task?
Also, do you have any instructors at your school, that although well trained and professional, are intent on thinning the herd and eliminating the students they deem to be weak?
