Faculty & Retention
Faculty surely play an extremely important role in student retention. But since most students are quite and reserved during their first week, making them feel that we are just people here to educate them and to share our career experience with them.
Amy,
I agree that faculty play a huge role in retention. The faculty spend time with students in small groups during orientation. Our faculty also spend time during the first class getting students familiar with one another as well as the expectations of the course and programs. Most faculty understand that students will want to come to class if the class is interesting. Engaging students is always a part of the faculty orientation, this helps with retention.
I agree that faculty play a huge role in retention. During the first class day I try to share funny information that pertains to the subject that will be learned. It helps the student to know that they wil be having fun in their learning process. I find that it also helps to have them interview each other and then introduce their partner. This seems to be easier for them because then they don't have to talk about themselves in front of a new group of people.
I am not as good as some Instructors as far as being a funny ice breakerer nor am I good at being a funny storyteller but I manage to get the students to warm up and know that I am approachable which make them feel a little more comfortable to participate. Then I have turn into this ugly, hard taskmaster that is now cracking the whip and saying "Get busy,we got work to do! We have no time for telling jokes. What's wrong with you people? Get to work!" Because you Instructors know as well as I do, that if we don't get busy, we will get behind because of the jam pack lesson plan we have to follow.
Not quite sure what this statement means, but I will try to elaborate.. Students may be quiet and reserved, but the instructors can diminish this by getting the students to share with the class something funny that has happened to them and it may be that the instructor starts the process by sharing something funny that has happened to them in the classroom in the past. There are several ways to break the ice when it comes to students.
