Shayla Gainer

Blog

In education, the product can be considered the information and/or the student. In order for a student to develop as well as meet educational goals, goal-setting is very important. I assist students in setting short-term goals, with the obvious long-term goals of graduating and then obtaining a position. Along the way, students learn their weaknesses in learning and professionalism, and then begin to create more short-term goals that assist in obtaining their long-term goals. This course has taught me to categorize as well as organize goals. SMART shows us how we can truly make goals attainable if we apply all… >>>

Shayla Gainer

Discussion Comment

Goal Setting

Though I do not have employees, my career college students can be thought of as employees and this information on goal setting can be very useful. The SMART approach offers a realistic approach to creating and following though on goals. I find that many adult students do not have the time to sit down and set goals, so I plan to utilize the worksheets as an assignment so they are able to begin setting goals.

Shayla Gainer

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Monetary Motivation

Incentives should not be offered to a department without offering incentives to all departments because student success is based on all departments.

Shayla Gainer

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Recovery

I had not been aware until now that students who attended schools that closed were able to recover their funds. This is excellent news for students who may be unsure about a school because this sort of "insurance" should make students more comfortable about their choice to attend should something happen.

Shayla Gainer

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Accepting Students

In the recruiting process students should always be asked about their status to find out if they have any reasons they would not be able to obtain employment upon completion of a program.

Shayla Gainer

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Informing students

Educating students with intgrity and honesty about their opportunities is so important. Not only does it improve retention, but students have realistic views and expectations for their education and ability to start a career. Where there is distrust, or students find that the person in admissions or recruiting sold them an unrealistic idea, then students are more likely to complain and become very difficult to instruct. Many of those students do not decide to leave because of the financial obligations they have already undertaken. Honest is the best policy.

Shayla Gainer

Discussion Comment

Retention

I do agree. Many students have the issues with feeling accepted or the ability to fit in with others. They are sometimes uncertain about their abilities. This is why I believe it is so important to set a comfortable classroom environment.

Shayla Gainer

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Buddy System

I have never considered this before but it is an excellent idea. It takes so much time orient the student myself if they have missed orientation, but if another student does it, they can also share some of their orientation experience as well as getting to know each other.

Shayla Gainer

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Classroom culture

Students in a class, even if it meets only once per week, should treat each other as a family or support system. I have suggested, not forced, students exchange phone numbers and call each other if they have questions on assignments or just contact each other if they have issues related to school. I also mention that it should be a positive interaction only. This helps students to stay throughout the course and it also helps with interations and positive communication.

Shayla Gainer

Discussion Comment

First Day

It is quite normal to be nervous about attending school even if you have attended another institution in the past and I try to remind students of that. It is often difficult to have an orientation for an individual class because most programs have accelerated courses that do not allow much time for students to get acquainted. I try to offer a "family" approach to my students on the first day. I explain that the relationship they have is much like a family and they can rely on each other. This usually helps them to get to know each other,… >>>