David,
This is a pretty common practice for carer colleges. The success of this process depends largely on what happens during the call. Students need to fee that the call is made to support them.
Jeffrey Schillinger
We take attendance promptly and will call students who are not present. This is done by student services, and the students know that they called because the instructor noticed, cared and asked them to call. Student services gets updated phone and address information from the students during orientation so that it is the most current and even use the cell phone texting system to contact them (a technology students are comfortable with).
First of all we ask the students if their having any problems with housing, transportation,jobs for income, or anything they may need assistance with and steer them in the right direction to get them the help they need. Then I ask them if they would leave me a number I can reach them at in case they come in late I can call them and wake them up to cut down on their missed time, or help with a ride to school if thats what they need. This really helps show them you care about their success. We also have student advisement forms that let the students know were they stand on time, grades,test scores, and downgrades. We also have student intervention forms to send up red flags to the people that can help them. Also perfect attendence partys and pins.
At my school we call every student who is not in school that day. I also follow up my phone calls with an email to them asking them to explain why they were not in school. If a student is out a second day they are called again but by the department head.
Timothy,
You are correct. Sometimes just listening is all that we need to do.
Jeffrey Schillinger
We advise students when time is missed, we have awards for perfect attendance and excellant attendance,when we have students miss to much time we have or SSI contact them to see what we could do to help and make their experience better.
To motivate students i believe you have to keep their attention, the best way to do that is for them to believe you care about them personally.
sometimes you just need to hear them out.
To motivate students i believe you have to keep their attention, the best way to do that is for them to believe you care about them personally.
sometimes you just need to hear them out.
Our school does a lot to demontrate attention. We call students the first day they are out, we work with their admistions rep if we are unable to reach them. We also have stuent appreciation day every term where they receive a small gift, food (where staff grills hotdogs for them) and fun (like hotdog eating contest).
Philip,
These are good strategies as they show a proactive approach.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Robert,
This sounds like the strategies used at most successful career colleges. All of this is important, but not as important as what goes on in the classroom.
Jeffrey Schillinger
There are a few items that the school examines when evaluating a student during this "provisional" time frame. First and foremost, the program directors of the students are checking to see if the student is showing up for classes, as low attendance during the first few weeks of class is often an indicator that he/she will not fit in the environment. How the student is doing academically is also a factor, as the early portions of the first term are usually on simpler material than the end of the term or program. The program directors are also meeting/contacting their respective students at least once a week to get the student's self-evaluation of where they stand in the process. I'm sure this list is not all-inclusive, since I am not a program director here, but these are some of the more vital items that are being evaluated.
Our school makes it a point to call a student when they are absent for even just a day. We have perfect attendance certificates for students. We have Student Appreciation days with food and prizes. Our admissions reps stay in contact with the students in school constantly checking up on them. Even our High School reps walk around the school, just to say 'Hello' to everyone.
I agree with lloyd we use these things all the time and they seem to help out alot. I also think that the lounge and pins make things alot better for them . the pins give them something to show off to there peers and the lounge is a great plce for them to hang out and relax.
We have several things: advisement forms, student lounge, perfect attandance pin and an student intervention program.
Our schools demonstrates paying attention because each and every instructor knows their students on a personal level by finding out such things as their jobs, family, interests, etc. We are also there for our students when they are need and try to help them find a solution that will work for them by directing them to the best people, i.e. a shelter, job opportunities, babysitting services, transportion. Another thing that we do at our school is provide community and school wide activities (i.e. safe trick or treat, christmas party, egg hunts)that allows that the students to participate and become a part of the school family which agains allows us to make connections with our students. Lastly, we pay attention to our students through the provisional period which applies to first term students. During this time period, the various programs keep track of attendance, grades and behavior to make sure that the student is suitable for the program and that they will be able to make it through the program. If the program believes that this is not a good fit for the student, then student can be made aware and try to find something more suitable to them.
Linda,
Many career colleges offer classes once per week. What are some ways the "daily connection" can be made when a teacher only sees her students once per week?
Jeffrey Schillinger
We do all of that as well,but if there is no individual connection with the students on a daily basis I don't think the students feel completly supported and encouraged.
We recently had a board meeting in which we made it a point to explain large class sizes take way from on on one time which most hands on students need. And I was very please to hear that the board as a whole saw the importance of placing a maximum number allowed to start the program per term.
Stephen,
Most career colleges do this. What are some other things that your school does?
Jeffrey Schillinger
