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Ask a question from your peers to help you in your professional work. Seek different points of view on a topic that interests you. Start a thought-provoking conversation about a hot, current topic. Encourage your peers to join you in the discussion, and feel free to facilitate the discussion. As a community of educators, all members of the Career Ed Lounge are empowered to act as a discussion facilitator to help us all learn from each other.

Clear Expectations and Consistency

While there are many ways we can enhance and impact student retention the two key methods for me are setting clear expectations for the students at the outset and being consistent in supporting those expectations throughout the class. The one other method that has helped me personally over the years is continuing to be a better listener. So often, the student just wants to know someone is willing to listen to their problems.

Adult Learning

I have learned that it is important that adult students feel that they are in control.

Keeping the excitement going

I often like to bring in guest speakers who provide "working lunches". This provided some sense of how the workforce operates and what is required on the job.

Adult learners

I find that adult learners are more focused and care more about their grades. They constantly want feedback and ways to improve their learning skills. What experiences have you had?

Keep them going

this is a great tool to help them stay on track

Yes

I love how we can help the students get through this.

Personal Experiences

Personal Experiences can help with retention and give students hope when they feel hopeless.Mny may feel that because an instructor is working and or accomplished that they cannot sympathize.But students can find reason to keep working hard and finish school.

Various methods

I feel that using different teaching styles helps you to gain and maintain student focus.I feel that giving students exposur to various ways of learning keeps them challenged yet excited.

Human Factor

Whenever I have a student who is often late or upset and disorganized I usually pull them aside and offer assistance including tutoring and remind them of other social resources our college offers.

first day discussion

I try to engag students and elp them to develop an overall educational purpose by having them o write a brief essay on why they came to the school.In addition I ask them develop a 5 year plan.

Stinkin Thinkin

When my students are feeling discouraged because they are struggling with a particular lesson and they become very doubtful of their ability to perform and they start using language like, "I can't do this," I call that "stinkin thinking." I tell my students, "No stinkin thinkin in this classroom - I don't want to hear, 'I can't do this' I want to hear, "I am currently working on mastering....(then whatever it is they are struggling with). They always laugh at first, but I find it amazing how it always seems to change their attitude. Their body language also changes as they say the new "verse."

Greeting

I always greet each student cheerfully with a smile and positive comment.Then before we begin class,I ask if any one has a good news minuet,[pertaining to class]that they would like to share with every one it sets a great mood ready to begin the lesson.

how do I make a boring subject more interesting?

Every term I teach the concept of federalism in US government-the division of government into local, state, and national levels. Possibly because I have always been somewhat bored with the topic, the students seem to get bored with it as well. I just can't imagine or envision a way to make the topic exciting or the process or learning it interactive. Maybe I could assign positions to all of them, live governor, mayor, city councilman, and then have them sort themselves into different branches and levels of government, but that wouldn't make the topic more relevant to them. Not sure what to do.

"Security" in the classroom

Self-confidence in the classroom, or security, is a key to unlock students intrinsic motivation. The two go hand in hand and are driven by each other. When students find thier self worth they find their motivation.

Belonging

Many times students feel like they dont fit in or belong in that particular environment or group. At times its difficult, but the great thing about being a educator is that we were all students , so we ca share our pass experiences as well as present ones, to help motivate them. AT we may have to play a freind role rather than authority.

Keeping their interest

What is the best way to keep extern students interested in attending their clinical sites?

Supporting Students

Hello Everyone, Supporting students at all age levels and in all career goals in an important aspect within the instructional setting. It is important to validate students' progress and ensure that the feedback provided is detailed and specific to the task at hand. It is also important to use the student's name within the feedback to ensure personalization of the material.

ed102 mod 4

I feel like I still have extreme passion for my work

Using non-trad students to your advantage.

Having taught at a few colleges, sort of all over the spectrum of academia, I am always thrilled to have non-traditional students in the classroom. These adult learners bring life experience to the class that many of the 18 year old, fresh out of high school, true college freshman simply don't have. Sure the young bucks have youth on their size, but what about the 50 year old factory worker that decided it ISN'T too late to go back to school? Or, the single mother of two that juggles two jobs and school because she knows it is in the best interest of her children? Or, the Iraq war vet that is putting his G.I. bill to good use? I am never shy to call on these students when we are discussing the real-world applications of what we've learned. I am especially interested, as is the entire class, when the questions involve critical thinking and problem solving -- two cornerstones of my course and teaching philosophy. Using these non-trad students as springboards for discussion sure gives them confidence. It also rubs off on the youngins, too. They realize, "Hey, if the old dude in the back can do this, I sure as hell can." It doesn't take more than a class period or two to get everyone on board and enthusiastic about class with this method. Soon enough all the students have a good rapport with me and each other.

Empowermant

I find that when students are getting ready to go out on their externship, they are fear they do not know enough to be successful or that they have forgotten the material. The way that I have dealt with that in the past is to assign case studies to the students during the last week and have them to come up with ideas to solve the problem. Student find out they have a lot more information stored in their memories than they thought. They also find out they are able to use resources to get information if they have forgotten. I tell them; yes you have forgotten some information so you will have to do some research to refresh your memory every now and then. This helps the student to ask questions if they need help and not feel ashamed of the fact they forgot some of the information, it also servers the purpose of empowerment because they usually know more than they forgot.