Help them to fit in and feel good about things. Show them that i care so much about them and treat them with great respect. Lead by example.
I invite students that are currently in externship program or former students that are currently employeed to speak to my class about their beginning fears and how that they were successful in their learning process and how this relates to what is happening in their current life's in the work force.
Deborah,
Such an important part of being an instructor.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Roberto,
I agree. When they see they are being successful they get excited about the fact that they are going to be able to complete the course and keeping moving toward their career goals.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Listening to students concerns and offering your assistance as needed.
i think the best way to help the students is to give theme the confidence they need to overcome there fears by showing theme who to do the work and be successful in the class and show theme that anything can be done if u really want it that nothing is impossible
Michelle,
Nice outline of what we instructors need to know about our students and how to challenge them as learners. By doing all of the components you list you will be preparing well informed and skilled students.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I like to focus on the positives on a lab exercise that they preformed. Let them know all the things that were done correctly and that I did not expect everything to be perfect the first time because we work on these exercises a few times and they will master the skill as we go along. Then show them the items to improve upon last and why. This way they are excited about their accomplishments and the next time what they will master.
I think first you will need to make sure the student understands and can verbalize their goals. What do they expect to achieve while in school.
Next, the student will need to understand what the expectations are for them to be successful. This may include setting time aside to study and complete projects, setting up lab time to reinforce any new material learned, so that the student can feel that they are in the "real" world setting.
Making sure the student has a network in place so if they stumble they have somewhere to turn. This can be an instructor, director of a program, fellow students and family.
Candace,
Good for you. This has been my experience as well and they need support and early success to see that they in fact can be successful in the class. These early successes help them to build up to the point they have the confidence that they are going to be able to complete their courses and get on with the next chapter in their life.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Some of my older students come in terrified. I find one little thing every class to compliment them or engage them in conversation. Over time, they seem to relax and not be so fearful.
I feel that constant encouragement of a student's work, and instilling confidence in their ability to succeed, will propell the student toward success.
Build confidence in their own abilities is the primary path that I use. If they believe that they can do it, then they accomplish learnin a lot more easily. Additionally, I try to provide my own tips for overcoming fears in learning and in the classroom.
Michelle,
Having raised a son with such tendencies I'm not sure if there is a clear cut answer to your question. (Life was nearly over for him when he got a B in a general education course his second year in college. It ruined his life since he had always been a 4.0. Good news was that life did go on and he was able to get a job and be successful in spite of getting a B once in his life.) They are so hard on themselves that they often miss the joy of learning and growth that is occurring.
When I have students like this I generally work with them on special projects so they can feel satisfied with their efforts and make these projects as perfect as they want. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't. It is an ongoing challenge to find what will help them to see the value of what they are learning but not stress too much on the perfection aspect.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
By encouraging and approving their efforts, and confirming to them that they can be successful in the course and in college, generally. Also, by tutoring them in the best way possible and helping them keep focus on their career goals.
I do a few things in the classroom, but I am always looking for new ways to help students with this. I find that even my younger students who are fresh out of high school suffer from low self esteem and are questioning their abilities in college.
I like to give them an overview of what I am covering that day, then ask them what they already know. I find that they often have an idea about the concepts we will cover (I teach the gen ed courses). Most times, it is a matter of fine tuning their thinking about a topic.
I also like to prime them before quizzes and tests -- I will take questions for clarification, but I don't actually answer their questions, I let their classmates (and often the question asker themselves) answer.
And, for the classes when I have a truly nervous group of students, I do allow a 3x5, handwritten index card of "cheat notes". Most of the time they don't use it because they know the information by the time they have written everything down on the card. It acts as a security blanket of sorts. I only do this for the big exams, not quizzes or smaller tasks.
I do have a problem figuring out how to help the perfectionist student overcome their fears of failure -- when failure is anything less than an "A." How do you help them overcome this tendency?
Dinesh,
Good advice for the students to consider as they start a new course.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I always tell them is this is not the end of world.begin from today to do hard work and you will be successful.there is a no age to learn,you can at any age.
Mabel,
You have a very supportive and comfortable blend to how you share content and get students to use their critical thinking abilities. This way everyone is expanding his/her knowledge base and expertise.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Christopher,
Good points and points that students need to understand if they are going to have college success.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
