What I see as a challenge with the students here would be. Our campus is what is called a comuter campus. This means that most of our students still live with their parents. I see this as a challenge because, the students have no responsibilities. They don't pay rent, have a car payment, worry about food or any other issue that students that live on their own have. This leaves the students with a sense of entitelment. The students want and expect great rewards for little to no effort. The Y generation has been misled to believe that everyone deserves the benefits of hard work as long as someone else does the work. Changing this behavior to make the students understand that they are responsible for their own success is very challenging.
The challenge that i see the most is not knowing what the truck is doing and why the book tells them one thing but the truck is doing something else the other thing is how to find info they are very black and white
Hi Douglas,
This is a part of becoming a student. They need to develop "student" skills which involves responsibility and maturity.
Gary
What is the most common challenge that you help your students with on a regular basis?
The student with low self confidence is one of our greatest challenges in any course. Instructors need to teach the student how to build this confidence and overcome their own negativity. Let the student know you believe in them and the progress that the student makes. Guide the student in making decisions giving some support as the student becomes more confident in what they can do.
Many of my students are recently enrolled, and they haven't gotten into a routine yet. They show up late for school and breaks and lunch. By strictly adhereing to the rules, they soon realize that they have to be on time if they want to pass the course. I also expect them to work when wer'e in lab, this course is hands-on.
Hi Terry,
This is a common problem with adult students, or for that matter I guess all age students. The key is to do what you are doing and offer variety and excitement so the students will become and stay engaged in the learning process. If they do then all the pressures of life are put off for a little while and they can move themselves toward their career goals.
Gary
Hi Jason,
You make a key point in terms of students in many cases are given to give up too easily. They can't see the end of the tunnel so they need guidance and support throughout the course so they will stay on course and not quit.
Gary
Hi David,
Good support on your part. By providing your students with some basic study skills you are helping them to get settled in the course and feeling that they can be successful. Good job.
Gary
One of my biggest challenge is Students paying attention. There is a lot going on in their lives (work,paying bills,parties,ect) and I often find them drifting away. If they would pay more attention on the lecture and take more notes I feel that they would be more successful in their test taking. I use different techniques to keep them interested and motivated.
I think that the most common chalenge that they face is that they have been ill prepared for what their lives and careers are going to throw at them. They think or have been taught that it is enough to try, that they should simply get credit for doing something just because they tried. They do not seem to understand taht this is a results driven society that we live in, and just trying is not enough. they get easily frustrated when they cannot simply snap their fingers and make something happen the way that they want it. They are quick to give up, and are very sensitive to criticizisms of any kind that question their abilities. it can be hard to get them to reasses, and come at a problem from another angle in order to succeed.
The challenge most students seem to have is a lack of organizational, study, and test taking skills. I hand out a syllabus and calendar with place to keep track of progress. I also will go over different methods of studying and some basic test taking techniques. I have stated to use a check off sheet of objectives for the days learning.
Hi Kenneth,
You are working is a very challenging instructional environment. With diversity of your students and the limited time I can really see where you are being pushed to get through the content. By focusing on the content (six chapters) and showing application the students can become motivated to put forth the effort needed to get through the course. In terms of support you may have to depend on the student services office to provide some help with students that don't have the basic skills needed for course success.
Gary
Trying to keep everyone motivated in the class due to different levels of experience, age, ability, and type of learner and the short time i have them in class seven days is not a lot of time to teach them six chapters
Hi Chuck,
Way to go in helping your students to be able to see the relevancy and connection between their classes and their study efforts. This way they can develop a big picture idea of where their careers can take them.
Gary
Hi William,
What are some of the strategies that you use to help your students to achieve better results from and on their exams?
Gary
Steve,
The more common challenge is when there is no consistency in policies from one classroom to another. Students may have a class that they were allowed to sleep or leave the classroom a lot and think this is a norm. The thing I believe that needs to be pointed out the first day is to remind them that the education they are recieving is specific to a career that they are going to use to make money for themselves, and improve the quality of life for their loved ones. Make sure that they understand that you will do what ever it takes to make them successful toward that goal and that will include not allowing the sleeping or leaving of class because you care.
How does this fit in with my career goals? While the words differ this is one challenge that continues to pop up. Convincing a student that something he is learning will be usefull in his day to day work is an challenge that has to be answered clearly. I usually do this by relating the subject or skill to something they will commonly see when they are working or to personal experiance, be it mine or the students.
I make a concerted effort to give students better results on exams. Not just the exams in my courses but test taking skills in general.
I find adult learners grade themselves by the outcomes of their tests.
Hi William,
Good point in terms of being a life long learner and self motivator. I'm ok if we work ourselves out of jobs as instructors but don't think it is going to happen in our lifetimes to many young ones coming on. Keep up the good work.
Gary
I personally feel that the challenge I can help them overcome is the idea that someone has to teach them something. My parents taught my brothers and sisters and myself that the best way to learn is to learn how to teach your self thru study and practiced application. I feel my greatest satisfaction when a student no longer needs me as an instructor because they have become a self teacher and self learner that seeks after information on there own and works out a way to apply that new found information. This however means that I am working myself out of a job.
