Kelly,
You make a number of very good points about what factors contribute to student success. As you say support groups are so important to the success factor. We need to be aware of how these support groups contribute to success and when they are absent provide support the best we can to help those students lacking support.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Many students come to school with a good support group. Their families, for whatever reason, have told them they cannot or will not succeed, they didn't have the best grades in high school, they don't have a supportive group of friends....you name it. In order for a student to be successful, they need to feel like they are a part of the school, that they are accepted for who they are, no matter what they have done and they need positive reinforcement on a regular basis to keep their motivation.
Marilyn,
Right you are. They feel accepted into the learning community with this approach and that is an important part of enhanced learning.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Students who feel accepted will participate more in class discussions and increase their knowledge this way. They will be able to concentrate more on their learning instead of whether or not they fit in with the group. My students will be able to ask me for help and direction with the class if they feel accepted by me.
I agree. I also believe providing constructive critism and helpful ways for improvement also helps with success and student learning.
Acceptance fosters an environment that provides for a desire to learn. Students that want to learn are more engaged in the process. If a student feels accepted, they will more likely have a desire to attend, which intern generates desire to learn. To the point, who would want to attend a course that they felt ostracized in?
Jennifer,
Good points and so important for students success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Rhonda,
Good points that reinforce what we know about learning. Feeling accepted in a class is so important for adult students. In addition if they know they have the support of the instructor they are motivated to achieve at a higher level. With early class success they are well on their way to achieving their goals.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Students should feel accepted by the faculty and we should be encouraging and helpful.
I always want my students to have a positive experience with learning. I think it is important to provide feedback in a reassuring manner.
I believe that when students feel accepted, they tend to put down their walls or barriers and relax. In the relaxed state, the student opens up more, becomes more receptive, thus allowing learning to occur. Not only do students learn in a relaxed atmosphere, but they are more likely to connect with other students. Learning,connecting and communicating are the building blocks for success.
Sam,
Good point and one that needs to be reinforced. The classroom and lab is the safest place to make mistakes as well as improvement because the instructor is there to help guide the learning process. Once they are on the job the tolerance for mistakes is not there and they need to understand that while still students.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Teaching technical topics often will often leave my students frustrated with one task or another. It seems necessary to encourage them and explain that the Hands-On portion of the class is an acceptable place to make mistakes and gain experience.
People generally will want to stay where they are celebrated and not where they are tolerated.
Acceptance usually will boost their self esteem and confidence, which ultimately will enhance their success.
Michael,
As you say when students feel accepted they are more willing to participate and contribute to the class. This is why they need to feel respected for who they are and what they bring to class in terms of experience. This respect then builds into rapport and professionalism.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
When students feel accepted in class they can focus more on the day's lesson or lecture. They then are more likely to participate in discussions, offer help to others in the class, or even to ask for help when needed.
