It deters learning when a student feels left out or unimportant. I think we need to help all our students feel accepted by making sure we as instructors accept them.
I believe that if you are aware of a students abilities or disabilities, you can better understand their struggle. I had one student that was a very hands on learner, but did have a struggle with the written assignements. When I noticed this and spoke to her she asked me how I knew, I told her what I observed and ever since she has been an "A" student at both.
Jon (Jack),
Your last sentence says it all in relation to this topic. We need to work to make our students feel accepted so they can build confidence in their abilities and newly acquired knowledge.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
All humans want to be accepted. Nobody likes to be "looking from the outside in". Acceptance is a comfort zone that encourages learning. A student who is in a class and doesn't feel accepted will struggle because their focus won't be on learning, but rather obsessing about a what the teacher and other students think of them. Acceptance develops confidence.
Adam,
This is true and so we need to work at making sure each students can feel accepted, supported and valued in the class. If we do that then they will be engaged and able to make progress toward their career goals.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
If students do not feel that they're accepted in the classroom they tend to contribute less because they see no value in doing so. When students do not have the motivation to contribute they disengage and do poorly on their individual work and have attendance issues.
Estella,
I agree and this is why it is so important to get the class comfortable with each other and settled in during the first class session. Then you can build on this comfort throughout the course duration.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe if a student is comfortable he/she is at ease to accept information, rather than spending valuable time worrying about wether or not the other students accept of like them.
Robert,
Right you are in terms of how our students need to be settled into the course for the reasons stated. They need to see how they can interact and be successful in a group setting. Not only is this important for them as students but they need to learn how to work with and interact with others as they will be doing this once they are in the work setting.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Most human beings have an internal need for social acceptance and social acceptance can be a powerful motivator under Social Expectation Theory. If students feel that they are part of the academic group and are expected to study, then their probability of studying will increase. An expectation to pay attention and ask questions during lectures designed to expand on the presented information will also help reinforce the student's memory retention arriving at a satisfactory goal of academic success.
Jessica,
I use them a lot in my classes as well for the reasons you cite. These are comfortable ways to learn more about how to problem solve, make mistakes and grow without the consequences being so high. This is what learning should be about.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Greg,
These are great examples to share with our students. As humans we have made our share of mistakes but if is hoped that we have learned from these mistakes and get better at doing our jobs. By sharing these stories we are trying to help our students to avoid making the same mistakes that we did. They will make enough of their own.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Eduardo,
This is critical so they students will stay in the course. Knowing they have a supportive instructor and are accepted by their peers goes a long way with a student as he or she progresses through a course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Margaret,
Good strategies. Students really like doing these types of activities as they reinforce the value of the content and lets them make application of the concepts they are learning.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Sonia,
This is very important for adult learners. They are concerned about being successful as well as being able to compete with the younger students. Early success and instructor support goes a long way in helping them to see that they can be successful.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In the beginning of classes I find that most students are more judgmental on themselves than family or friends would be. I Like the idea of scenario reenactments, it gives the students an opportunity to practice what we learned and on different levels on a safe or accepted group. I find that this social acceptance allows for them to gain a better self worth and validation.
I will sometimes have students that are frustrated with a concept or are afraid of making a mistake.
On occasion, I will relate a past personal experience where I have ‘made a mistake’ or ‘broken’ something, but with a positive outcome. Making that mistake (or breaking something) helped me gain a deeper understanding of how something functioned, along with the knowledge that most mistakes can be corrected. With each mistake/learning opportunity, we can become a little less fearful and more confident.
Every student needs to feel that they are part of the class. By being accepted, they will feel confident about their learning capabilities and have a sense of belonging. Once a student becomes part of a group, they will learn more efficiently.
I also do hands on in my class room. We do many roll play in class teaching them the "real-world"
I find they like this form of teaching.
I think it is very improtant for students to feel accepted because they already have doubts about coming back to school for many reasons. The experience they get in the classroom can change their fear to being a positive experience overall.
