negativity and retention
There have been quite a few students nearing the end of their learning at our school that have some how grown a great negativity towards the school. They tend to show this to new students and it grows like wildfire. Everyone needs to work as a team to target these problems early on and to help aid these students with there issues. If this happens, we can enforce a more positive environment for the students and increase retention
pamela,
The good news is ... you can help them to be successful too. Maybe the first time in their educational life!
Dr. Larry Banks
I see this as well. If a student is one of those that sits in the back and never does work, but still shows up, they want to be here, but may feel overwhelmed at the requirements. In the Private, for profit schools, we take students who may not have been successful in high school, no study skills, etc, but they still want to better themselves. It is a facade they put on that hids their inner self doubt.
Randolph,
You are right, the instructor change mold and help to change attitudes. It really does start with the instructor.
Dr. Larry Banks
Fight negitiveism with a positive .Students that have a negitive attitude toward their school can come from many issues such as financial aid, poor class or lab grades. These attitudes can be changed with the proper timley intervention this usually starts with instructor observations
You know, there is another side to this. Often, schools place learning barriers in front of students. Sometimes, they don't know it. Consider removing learning barriers. Just a thought.
Dr. B
Using the school or the instructor as the scapegoat for a student not learning or not progressing is a sign of fear or confusion. Many times a student who is not challenged or becomes frustrated due to a lack of understanding or a lack of support whether from the instructor or peers tends to find someone else to blame. The student needs guidance. Many times, if the instructor sits down witht he student at the first sight of disconnect, they can curb the negativity and allow the student to advance at their own pace.
Interesting. Very important that the educational program is linked to careers.
Dr. B
I hear this from my students often. I will usually ask my students how much research they have put in to the career path and what was expected from them by the school. I generally get the answer that the student has not done any of their own research into these topics and I try to turn it into a learning experience for them and teach them that they need to do some research and find these things out for themselves. I then try to spend some time with them and answer their questions about my experiences in my field, so far I have had more positive outcomes than I have had negative.
It really is about making the studetns at the end of their time feel every bit as important as those who are new. I agree most often the ones who are negative are tos whoe feel that their expectations have not been met.
You have the right idea. It is not always easy. Sometimes you can turn the negative person into your most loyal student. Not easy, I know.
Dr. B
In every school there is always a bad seed that infects the group, but the idea is reinforcement of the positives and the challenges those students have overcome to get to graduation. In the end the student would not have made it had it not been for their positive attitude to succeed so the positive attributes should prevail.
I agree here, too. Whether they have a legitimate beef or not, the negativity needs to be addressed or it will spread and become systemic. Also, determining the true source of the negativity (their school or private lives) can help us to help them.
Sometimes, faculty put learning barriers in the way, though. So, be careful. Do all you can to remove learning barriers. For example, word definitions can be a barrier to mis-understanding.
Dr. B
I agree, Students so often blame their failures on the school or Instructors . I often make a point to explain to them to take a look at themselves to see if they could have increased their effort to be successful.
I have also found that the negativity comes from the student failing themselves, but blaming it on the instructor or school.
This is the key. Tell the same story and a truthfull story.
Dr. B
I find that the negative students did not have their expectations meet. Their recruiter could have done a better job so the student can have realistic expectations; I find that most recruiters like all salesmen embellish to get that student hooked. This is bad!! Tell it like it is and let the program speak for it self .
I agree with you, negativity breeds negativity. When I have the opportunity to teach the students first class, I express to them the various types and attitudes of the students already attending. I then ask them to think about the goals they have and then ask them if they would allow others to affect their goals. I ask then to continually remember why they are here and to think about the "real" reputation the school has and the reasons they were attracted to our school.
Perfect. Do all you can to control the negativity.
Dr. B
