Many of our students are non-traditional student and with that said have low self esteem. Everyone wants everyone to like them. Most of our students are first generation college students and have no support system. Thus when they start school they already feel like they are all alone, being at school and finding friends helps them on all accounts.
It is easier for them to work with other students and to blend in without feeling of inferiority or being treated as not a part of the class. Sharing knowledge with co-students is sometimes the best key to success
In ordwer to feel that the time they are spending in class is well worth it they have to fell accepted. If they are constantly feeling uaccepted than its safe to assume that they will not want to spend their time in class. No class= no success!
Thank you for the vote of confidence. Identifying leaders and utilizing them to serve as a peer mentor is a win-win situation for everyone...even me.
Judith,
Good way to bring all students into the total learning process. I am sure that by recognizing students' leadership skills and then using them you get a very high level of buy in from everyone.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Acceptance leading to success is not limited to the classroom. This is common with all aspects in life. Acceptance gives the recipient a feeling of confidence which leads to success. Without acceptance, the student will feel a sense of rejection, and even if it isn't reality, the feeling is real, and success is difficult to achieve when rejected. The instructor can play a large role in assisting students to feel a sense of acceptance. This can be accomplished by assigning teams for projects. I like to assign teams with one outgoing member and several students that have difficulty 'fitting in.' I have, even at times, had conversation with the outgoing members of the team, letting them know that I am aware they are a leader, and need their assistance to be role models for the others. In the past, I have only had positive outcomes with this exercise.
Sandra,
Good point about how we need to work with adult learners. We need to be supportive in the learning process so they don't feel like they don't belong in the classroom. Some are looking for excuses to fail because they are uncertain about their potential for success.
Gary
This was a very helpful tip. Thanks I will use it. Helping students feel accepted is crucial to learning.
As a more mature adult, I find it so amazingly easy to feel 13 or 16 again with one unthoughtful comment or awkward situation. The more at ease we can make everyone feel the more open they will be to want learn, or change or at least make an honest attempt
Drieca,
Great way to learn more about your students while giving them early success in the course.
Gary
One thing I have come to understand about some of my students is...the desire to feel that what they are learning is important, and that THEY are important as well! I always give my students a project that is structured and developed specifically for each one of them. My favorite project for a major grade is a Dream Board. It almost always allows them to understand that i want to know about their individual dreams about success....and then to discover their own desire for success.....
A feeling of belonging is important for the connection factor. A student needs to feel connected and that their attendance and participation matter.
Acceptance builds confidence and that will help contribute to their success. Confidence can then be built upon by positive reinforcement and with acceptance in the form of peer encouragement. I urge my students to become cheerleaders for each other.
Lets face it, no one wants to feel like an outsider and different. When we are at home and at school. So I have and will try to help the studenst feel accepted and the same as all other students. Not pointing out differences like age, race and education ability.
So what can we do when they are placing these stressers on them self?
Once a student feel accepted it helps them to get into there studies and wanting to learn more about the program they have chose to be in. Now they feel they can obtain there degree.
Ruth,
Knowing they are moving forward and gaining new knowledge and skill sets is a powerful motivator.
Gary
Ruth,
Student respect will help to create a learning community that is effective as well as gain instructor respect. It is a two way street in terms of setting the tone for the class.
Gary
I try to instill in my students the sense that they can accomplish anything, as long as they are willing to try. I teach computer classes, and some of my more mature students feel intimidated at first, however, I assure them that they do not have to try to compete with the younger students, because they will all meet at the finish line together.
Students, and people in general, regardless of age, cultural background, etc, wish to be respected and accepted by others. As an instructor in is my job to make sure each student feels special because of who they are. They need to feel that their personal experiences brings something unique to the class discussion, but not so unique that it makes them feel alienated.
If you set an atmosphere of mutural respect in your classroom from day one, this will go a long way in student retention.
When feeling accepted by thier peers, students will have the confidence in themselves (through the acceptance by their peers)to succeed. More to often do I see in my diverse population of studence is that they are competitive in being accepted amungst themselves. Once the ice is broken and the comfort level is established thet can focus on the topic to be learned.
