Kaitlin--
Excellent strategy. Sounds like you have the right mix of ingredients. Do you have some assessment you do during the enrollment process to help identify those who need assistance in certain areas?
Susan
Bruce--
Keeping students focused on the end-goal is one of the most effective retention tools. Good job!
Susan
We try to balance full disclosure (information is power) with encouragement. Most of our students do not have an extensive academic history and so their fears are reasonable. So we try to make them aware of what will be required, give them tools to be successful, and lace the whole orientation with encouragement and a positive attitude.
I reassure the student by having him or her think of where they want to be in 5 years.
Craig--
Absolutely true! We need to keep their end goal in front of them as often as possible (employment). Continually reminding them and reinforcing that what they are learning in the classroom has practical application on-the-job is an important and effective retention tool.
Susan
Reassuring them that we are preparing them for the job market . This is done by giving them an course outline and decribing the skills they will learn . Discussions involving real world application of those skills and their value in the industry .
Isva--
It sounds like you do a great job of acclimating the students to their resources.
Do you have some type of activities that encourage students to get to know each other as well?
Susan
Pablo--
That's great that you keep the end goal in front of them...preparing them for their profession is what brought them to our door. The fact we get to play a part in that and provide them with some support is a plus!
Susan
Alana,
Along with student introductions on the first day and some fun questions, I also like to ask them what they are studying and why they chose to further their education. I like to make notes when the students are speaking so that I can remember at a time when the student may need reminding as to what brought them there, and a little boost to not give up.
Thank you,
Dolly
Hi Susan
I have everyone to do a fun student introduction on first day with fun questions. Such as your favorite ice cream, etc. (we have so much with this)
Thanks
ALana
Hi Susan
I am very organized on the first day of college with brick schools-class syllabus, student questionnaire, etc. I have student introduce each other to the class in brick.
For online classes, I start the first day with Student Introductions on DB and reply to each person
Thanks
Alana
Currently we introduce all departments and individuals in each deapartment in orientation. Also we address the process for each department and how each department can help to benefit each and every student.
Always sound confident and knowledgeable when addressing these factors.
We have the students go around the class and say something aobut themselves. In doing so, i hope to make the student feel as though I realize that they are individuals and i let them know that I understand that they all have individual needes and personal situations.
When addressing student fears I try to tell them upfront some of the things they are going to feel as they encounter new information. I then start by saying, we, as a society, like instant gratification; you will not find that here, but what you will find, if you can trust in the process, is the start toward a whole new life. One where you will achieve the goals you have set for yourself. We can start by defining those goals and then build a step latter with the rungs being one more step achieved in order to get to our goal.
Students will share some personal information with rest of the class and the main reason why they decide to join our program.
From the beginning, we emphasize that our program is always looking to help them to find employment, so present them a lot of resources that will help them to reach that goal. This create a sense of support more than challenge.
Garry--
Excellent idea. The more 'real' we can make the experience the better.
Susan
I use audio and video in the classroom so that students get a more personal feel to the assignment feedback.
Indawati--
Great points...especially given your subject area. Math, as you know, is one of those courses that students avoid at all costs as a rule and many have a math-phobia.
Reinforcing that what they are learning in your class has very practical application to what they will need to do on the job is another great way to provide a little extra motivation on the subject.
Susan
Diana--
That's an awesome 'welcome'! Your orientation sounds very personal.
Susan
