Travia,
This is so important because as you say it gives you an understanding about the student. The more we know about our students the more accurately we can provide support to them and move them toward career success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Knowing why students enrolled in our program, will allow instructors to craft instruction and assessments. As well as, allow the Instructor to understand if the student is facing any specific intrinsic or extrinsic challenges.
Merrick,
I think this is important information to have because by knowing why they have chosen their field you can help shape their understanding of the field and what the expectations are. If they don't understand the field clearly then they are going to be disappointed when they are working in it. They need a realistic picture of where they are going to spend their working years.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I always ask why my students have chosen to their fields of study. I do this to see if they have realiistic career goals and on the most beneficial road to their future.
David,
You make a good point about knowing why our students are in our classes. By knowing this we can more accurately target our instruction to support the growth of our students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As much as we the instructor want to feel like we have all the answers; it is our students who provide much of the material for our class. We need to understand their reasons for enrolling so that we can support them and to relate our instructional ideas to those experiences.
Chris,
You make a good point because it does not take long for the word to get around about a course or an instructor. It is important for the school and the instructors to work together to develop a unified effort in student support so the students will see that each instructor is striving to help each student be successful if that student will put forth the needed effort.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I disagree with the "word of mouth" principle because I used to work in the restaurant business. If you had an unpleasant meal in a restaurant, you told everybody; if the meal was very nice, you told only a few close friends. In some ways, students behave the same way: they tend to encourage fewer students towards classes they enjoyed and steer more students away from unsatisfactory classes/instructors.
Mark,
Good point about knowing why students are enrolled and what their goals are for the course. Having such information greatly aids in the ability to target them with the content you select and how you deliver it.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Thomas,
This information sets the stage for how you will approach your course. As a result you can customize your content to assist in the reaching of the stated goals your students have shared with you.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Different students will be facing different things in their life and will have a different purpose for attending school and different goals. understanding these will help us as instructor to teach our students and help them succeed.
You must know why the student enrolled in the program to know how to present information so that it will interest them. They are here for a specific goal in audio and they have very specific expectations.
Joy,
Students frequently forget why they enrolled in the first place so your point is a good one. They need to be reminded of the end goal and how they are preparing for their future. This is especially true about half way through a course when they start to get tired and worn down.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
You can tailor your lesson plans to the students' goals. If you know why they have made the decision to enroll (which was no doubt a large and thought out decision), then you can bring some of that into the classroom, so they can see the light at the end of the tunnel. For example, if they came to school to get a promotion, earn a higher salary, and be a better provider for their family, then show them how your lesson in particular will lead them down that path. Being reminded of, and being able to visualize, their end goal will provide strong motivation to succeed.
Bonita,
I agree it is good to know this information. This lets you customize your instruction so you can engage each student in a way that is personal for him or her.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It is a benefit to the instructor to know why a student has enrolled into a program. One benefit is that an instructor can incorporate details in the lessons that speak to the individual goals of the students. Having this kind of learning in the classroom, keeps students focused and engaged in the learning process.
Damian, good point. This information can also be used in coaching the student to an appropriate program. Sometimes students enroll in college just to enroll with out clear set goals.
Stacy,
I agree, if an instructor understands the goals and needs of the student and uses this information to build lessons the students tend to stay in class.
Audrey,
I think this is good information to have from a student for the reasons you mention. This way you can encourage, support and challenge students as needed when they are moving through their programs.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Knowing why a student has enrolled in a program gives everyone a common goal to work towards. If a student is having a bad day and declares they want to give up, I like to remind them why they joined to program in the first place, reminding them of their initial goals.
