New Instructor
I have recently started at a career college as an instructor. I feel as though I am slowly getting the hang of things but I am starting to have some student issues. I have a student faling my class and have called him/her in to talk about what is going on and how I can help. The response I got was "I am just not motivated to come to class or do my homework." To me this says this person just doesn't care. I have tried numerous things to get them to attend class only to be disappointed when they don't come or don't do the homework. I know I can't "save them all" but in a way I feel as if this is a failure on my part. Is there anything else I can do?
Sounds like you are engaging the student and they are being open and honest. Perhaps you can find out why they are taking this class and what their career path looks like. If you can give the student real life examples of how this knowledge/skill will be used and why it is so important they may have a new interest if they can relate it to something in their career or their life.
Hi Kaleena!
It is exciting watching students grow in a classroom, and understand the information you are empowering them with. While it is important to motivate students, they have to want the help offered. I use the example of gas for student motivation. Some students run on regular, some on standard, and some on premium. Then there are those students who make you wonder if they have filled their tanks at all!
Continue to "plant" seeds of knowledge as you teach for eventually it will take root! Perhaps
you won't see it, but that's the beauty of teaching...faith that it will!
I would say you are already off to a good start by reaching out to the student. After multiple attempts, I find it helpful to have that one final tough talk with them--outlining what their lack of performance thus far has cost them and what it will continue to cost them whatever road they chose. It's a bit of a cliche' but I have used the saying: "if you always do what you always did then you are always going to get what you have always gotten." With some of my employees persistence in this area has paid off--some have never had anyone they felt really wanted them to succeed--while others, unfortunately, we may never change.
Accepting that a student is going to fail, I imagine is not easy and how can one not take it personally?
Hi Richard,
Good strategy. Anything you can do to keep them engaged and active will help to move the blood around and keep their eyes open. This is a common situation for adult learners and I admire them for trying to increase their career options by going to school. This is why I work very hard to present a fast moving and dynamic class so they can from the course what they need and not let fatigue overtake them.
Gary
I have a similar issue, with absent and tardy students. When talking with them I found out that several work all night and come to class without any sleep. I have moved them closer to me and try to pull them into discussions as often as possible. I also try to relate to their jobs, and where their education will move them to a better work environment.
Do you have student services at all? If you do - you can refer the student there. We have early alert forms that we fill out and give to our Dean of Students at the first sign of issues. I have a student who has missed 3 classes and also brought her daughter to class - so I have referred her to the Dean of Students so that they can help her with any issues she may be having that I'm not qualified to do so.
The important thing that you have done is that you have already shown a caring and compassionate attitude toward the student. You did not give up on the student, you tried and if the student fails to appreciate the assistance, that is on them. All that matters is that you can feel good about yourself when you look at yourself in the mirror at the end of the day. From the few words I read from you, you should feel great about your efforts when you look at yourself in the mirror.
Hi Kaleena,
While it always hurts when you have a student that is not successful you are right you can't save them all. Try to help in anyway you can so when the student chooses to fail because it is a personal choice then you know you have done all that you can to have been of help. Learn from the experience and then concentrate on those students that want to learn and succeed.
Gary
