Every human needs to feel excepted especially when they are making a life change. An instructor needs to accept each student so the student feels sucsessful from the get go.
Everyone wants to be accepted. Not feeling accepted messes with your self esteem. If your self esteem is low, it is doubtful you will be successful.
Feeling accepted in the class gives the student self confidence and motivation to stay in school.
I notice that students who feel accepted are more likely to answer questions in front of the class, it definitely helps students who are a bit shy to come out of their shell. Students who feel accepted are not afraid to ask questions and usually earn the higher grades.
Hi Tina,
Good point about the need of feeling accepted by students. If they can feel accepted and comfortable in a new class they then can concentrate on the subject content with better results.
Gary
All human beings have a desire to be accepted, whether it be in the home setting or school. When students come to college, they want to be accepted by their peer group. In doing so, individuals use that relationship with their peers to help motivate them to be successful, as well as act as a resource in times of stress or difficulty with course content. Students who do not have this tend to be distant in the classroom and have more difficulty interacting and meeting the needs of the course.
Hi Bret,
This is a very good point. Many students are putting themselves out there by coming back to school. They are nervous and not sure they can be successful. By knowing they have an understanding and supportive instructor their comfort level will increase and they will be much more confident in their ability to be successful in the course.
Gary
I think it is all about confidence in themselves, which we can facilitate as instructors. I think it is also imperative for instructors to promote a healthy, non-judgemental environment is their class.
Hi Skip,
This is so important for the students. Support through feedback and constructive criticism shows the students that you really care about them and their success. It also helps them to continue in the develop of their skill sets needed for career success later.
Gary
Positive reenforcement provides confidence for each student. Students look for feedback and they want to know wether they are succeeding. The students look to the instructor as the subject matter expert. Feedback and constructive criticism are key in the development of student understanding and learning.
For both nontraditional and traditional age students, feeling understood and accepted becomes an important part of education. Older students often fear they will not fit in because of their age and that the younger students may not accept them. I have taught students of all ages and find that the classes with the most age diversity are often the ones where students learn the most about themselves and others. Oftentimes the older students can use their experience to offer the younger ones advice and the younger students can assist the older students with technology and study habits. It ends up a win for both.
Hi Maggie,
Great way to establish a connection with your students. Your are right when they feel such a connection they will be more motivated to put forth the effort required for success.
Gary
Everyone wants to feel accepted everywhere. Even as a teacher... especially when I first started, I always wondered if the students liked me or if I am being accepted by them. By feeling accepted, they feel like they belong in the class and are not just a ghost thus they have a tendency to show up more because they feel as if they are needed and that they are definitely being watched. This encourages them to do better and actually enjoy coming to class.
When each student feels understood, welcome and accepted in class, they are each more likely to show up (attend class regularly) and contribute. This then heightens the discussion and topics covered in class in a meaningful way, as each student brings to bear his or her own life experience to the subject discussed. I have found that when students participate in meaningful ways, they build a network with one another, and with the instructors. This makes it much more likely that they achieve good grades and complete their program of study.
Thanks,
Maggie Owens
Hi Ruth,
Excellent point and one that every instructor needs to heed. We can be supportive but we cannot be buddies with them. We are the career model for them and we need to remember that as we help them to progress through the course.
Gary
In my chemistry classes, there are several research-style activities involving using the Internet to produce reports. My students work in pairs and they each bring different skills to the table. The only rule I have for choosing a partner is that you have to have a different partner for each activity. They get to choose their own partners for the first few and then I make assignments. This not only introduces them to more individuals in the class, but also increases their skills in cooperation and adaptability. They have to make quick assessments about their own strengths and coordinate their efforts well to get the assignment completed in a timely manner.
I have seen so many "professionals" falling into the trap of trying to befriend the students. When the classes are smaller, it is very hard to avoid being caught up in the student dramas going on during the term, but you can't be a buddy and remain effective as an authority figure in the classroom. I try to avoid spending every break time in the classroom, which keeps me from hearing complaints about school work, other instructors, their families, etc. While I want to remember that my students do have lives outside of the classroom, I need to be more focused in helping them to succeed in my classroom than getting into issues over which I have no control.
Students who don't feel accepted in classes tend to not take part in discussions and or lab activities.
With out this participation the student feels left out and their confidence level falls. A sense of worth is crucial for success.
It is easier to understand in the converse: exclusion has no place in the classroom. Acceptance is the only way to ensure that students feel safe to participate in the process.
We all have a need to belong and be part of something special. Student success is based on that sense of acceptance that feeds into our willingness to continue on to the finish line. It is the support of those who share the same desire for accomplishment that encourage us to go on and reach beyond our comfort zones.
