Reasons for Enrolling
How will knowing why students have enrolled in your program help you to plan your instruction?
So that they have the opportunity to define it themselves. I feel many may not know and this gives them a moment to understand why. Also I can remind them at mid term when the grind sets in and their lives are overwhelmed. It also helps me in planning and presentation. Each class has its own personality and I have to adjust each term. This keeps it fresh for me as well.
Knowing the students' reasons for enrolling will give instructors insight into the students' motivation and will assist in formatting lessons that will meet the expectations of educationally motivated students and surprise the studnets motivated by "other-reasons" that this is really worth their time.
I actually use this as part of our day one introductions (i.e. Give me your name, and why you chose this school/profession) it helps me to know what my students are thinking/expecting from both the school and me. It also gives me something to remind them of when they are stressed or doubting themselves.
Knowing specific reasons why each student has enrolled in your program can help to encourage them. When they are having difficulties or maybe thinking about dropping out, reminding them of why they enrolled in the first place could be helpful. You could also use the reasons they enrolled in relating course material directly to them.
Hi,
As an instructor, I also ask my students why they enrolled are enrolled in the program, which I feel is a very good idea for all instructors to do on the first day of class. That one question aids us with learning a little about our students. However, I have had a few students state "I'm here because I don't have anything else to do". This takes me by surprise each and every time.
With a very diverse student population it is important to know their reason for enrollment. The student that is being retrained due to a factory closure may have been thrown into a situation without have a lot of time to contemplate the career goal they want. They have out distractions such as financial, family, and the fear that they cannot be successful in the new career. The recent high school graduate might have the feeling that this will be a piece of cake and not apply themselves. All of these and others need to be known by the instructor to be able to adjust the way he reaches each student.
lets you know who is really excited to learn and be in class everyday
We as instructors can be more attending to their personal learning styles and needs.
Keondra,
This is such valuable information to have as it provides you ways to engage students and provide support as they progress through the course. The more we know the more we can customize our approach.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Knowing why students have enrolled in a program may be very beneficial for a teacher's instructional methods. Being informed of the reasoning behind enrollment will inform the instructor about the student's goals and views on the course and/or education. This knowledge will also help the instructor plan the lessons out using methods and information that will keep the students engaged. Thus increasing learning retention. The knowledge of reasoning behind a student's enrollment will also increase the instructor's knowledge of some of the student's personal characteristics and the value he or she places on the course in regards to their future goals.
Students have many different goals when enrolling in a college class. I often start the first day of my class with an ice-breaker activity designed to allow the students to explain their career goals and what they would like to get from the course. This information helps me to provide material that is going to benefit them as they seek to advance in their education and career. I try to give the students practical exercises so that they can learn to apply their education to their chosen career path.
I think it is important to know why students enroll as an instructor because it can help in the way you prepare your lesson. Some students are in school because their parents make them go where others go because they want to be in school. In both cases you have to teach student the benefit of an education.
Suzanne,
This is such a great way to get students settled into the course and feeling comfortable with you and their classmates. Then you can build on what they tell you to select the instructional components that will have the most value to your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
On the first day of a new module I like to have the students introduce themselves to each other,talk a little bit about themselves and why they have chosen this program. This helps me to know the students, their needs and wants. Once I know my audience I can plan my lectures/lessons plans so that they engage the class.
The main reason for enrolling in a class is advancement in career.The student with this aim are easy to motivate and do good during their stay.One other group is - parents wish. This is the group which is very tricky and in my experience, at the end of the day retaining this group is very difficult.I tell them that education never go waste and there are chances that it might benefit them.With the type of course we have, business school,this some times works.They can learn but need the education to be very interesting and easy, which is sometime not possible with some of the classes.
Markita,
Good plan that you are using. Students do get tired and forget they are in fact moving closer to their career objectives all the time, especially mid-training. So the more reminders and examples you can give them the better so they will get ramped back up and continue to move forward.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Some enroll for reasons of a job loss or outsourcing and not enough security. Above all reasons it would seem additional education and the skills that go with them are valued in most fields. Not to look at them as retraining, but investing in their future. Some may not start their own business and others will. The knowledge they gain from continuing education is a benefit to them. Which they can either fall back on if they have a need to or follow other opportunities. Still they have enrolled because they have a future plan for themselves to accomplish something that interests them (hopefully).
How will knowing why students have enrolled in your program help you to plan your instruction?
That is one of the questions that I ask my students on the first day of class. I refer back to why or the goals they listed to link it to the class. I teach an introduction class as well as a mid-level class. I find that these students at both stages may be overwhelmed or feel that they have a long way to go. If I constantly remind them in examples throughout the lesson why they are here; they are more motivated to finish what they have started.
If I know why a student has enrolled, I can use that information to help motivate them through their education. Sometimes using that information gives the student a reminder of the bigger picture and enables them to push through tough times. If the reason is related to a person, I can try and make sure that person is on board and the student has a good support structure for emotional support.
