I agree Craig.,
Taking that a step further by meeting with students one on one make sure it is in a neutral location and allow the students to do the speaking. The first couple of times this is a short meeting until the student discusses an opportunity for you to improve their learning. Once this happens we need to make swift adjustments that satisfy that opportunity while at the same time not comprimising the rest of the class' learning. They need to feel that we are listening and working to better their learning experience.
I also allow the students to evaluate me anomonously and as a class we discuss the opportunities that they have called attention to. We also discuss what they find is working to see how that can be incorporated through out my course.
Chris
I have found in my experience that what has been said so far is very true and has worked. One thing I would like to add for the student with low selfesteem is that personal one on one. This one on one approach has given me great success when I was an instructor. Being approachable and asking the students questions, it takes time for them to open up and trust you. Especially finding their likes and strengths because you can call upon this allowing them to be the subject matter expert in their particular area. Once you have established their trust and they know you care about their success it is a drastic turn around from the student who might have just been doing marginal in the class and now he has brought his game a step higher.
You need to have a humane factor when dealing with people. Some require a little more one on one instruction. Building self esteem is a graet way to let them know someone cares about them.
Hi James,
Well said. Instructional support is a must to ensure that students do not become derailed from the learning process.
Gary
Students are people also. Its our duty as mentiors, instructors, managers, to see that they will get all the rescourses thet you can give.
Hi Russell,
Good point. Sometimes the students seem to forget why they are enrolled in the course in the first place, and that is career opportunities. By helping them to achieve just a little bit of self confidence through success the students will start to see they can do the work and that their career goals are a possibility if they continue growing in their knowledge and skills.
Gary
I have found out in my career that in order to motivate students with very low self-steem i had to get them to realy look at themself and to understand just where they would like to see themselves in the future.
I agree with Dr. Greer.
Also, I think that your own attitude toward the challenge is extremely important. If YOU truly believe in the power of positivity and its affect, then a positive behavioral change can happen.
If you are an example, share it with them.
Nadine
Hi Rosa,
You first start by identifying ways in which low self-esteem students can be encouraged and motivated. Look for little ways of encouraging them. Have them complete short assignments where the risk of failure is very small and when they succeed let them know how proud you of them. Keep building you instructional support of them in this way. Keep in mind though that this is a hard process since they just didn't lose their self esteem overnight. They are adults and it has take a long time for them to get to this point and it will take a long time for them build their self esteem back. In addition, I find that many students with low self esteem also lack in self discipline so you have to provide them guidelines and deadlines to keep them involved in the course and seeing that they are making progress. A lot of personal encouragement will be needed as well.
Gary
