I like to remind students that fear of success gets trumped by hard work,passion, and accountability. As a former non-traditional student,I had such fears but they were alleviated by instructors who offered positive feedback and constructive criticism. While in school, we all encounter bumps in the road, but if the lines of communication remain open, the student's fears can be replaced with a goal of career success.
Karen,
Learning is made up of knowledge acquisition and much of this knowledge is acquired by making mistakes and then growing from them. You are providing a setting where they can learn and grow in a low risk supportive setting. This is a positive way to progress through one's program of study.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
The best way that I've found to help alleviate fear in students is to provide an atmosphere in which students feel okay about making mistakes and asking questions. If a student makes a mistake, I will point out that I have made the same or similar mistakes myself.
You have to create a supportive community in your classroom by valuing everyone's input (while still maintaining control of the classroom!), praising small successess, and encouraging students to help one another. Make sure students know about resources available to them, such as tutoring and remind them of this often.
Arthur,
Good ideas for student engagement. The more involved they are the more they are going to retain the content being presented.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I believe it is very important to invole the students active participation in the class as soon as practical. Encourage questions of all kinds and attempt to egt them over the mindset that "everyone else is getting it, why can't I?"
Celebrate successes early in the class with reinforcement of how far they have come in a short period of time.
By knowing your students, assessing their progress and providing timely feedback is an effective approach to success, especially when coupled with varied teaching methods that best suites the student's ability to grasp the material.
Make an assurance that they can learn and attain their goal.
addressing their individual concerns regarding the school, classmates and or material given.
1. Tutoring sessions are mandatory for all faculty. As program director, I have a birds eye view of the tutoring classroom so I know if the students needing help are attending.
2. Progress reports are distributed every five weeks. Student alarms are sent to failing students and students close to failing pushing them to get tutoring. Progress reports for students doing well congratulate them on their success.
3. Emotional and psychological first aid: letting students know they CAN pass a class; ensuring that they have a support group at home; referring them to student service specialists
I convey the first day of class that this is a team effort.I am on their team to help them reach their goal.
Nice approach. By envisioning themselves in their professions, it can result in an increase in their enthusiasm and level of confidence.
Anna-Maria,
Non-traditional students often lack self confidence in their abilities to be students once again. By helping them have early success and knowing as you mention they have a supportive instructor they can settle into the course knowing if they put forth the effort they can make progress toward their career goals.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Fear of college is a natural part of going to college, especially for the adult learner. For one they have not been in school for many years, they might have a family comprising of young children that need their support. All of this and more contribute to this fear. As an instructor you are here to help all the students succeed, and in so doing you can constantly motivate, by showing concern, cheering them whenever they contribute to the class, or after a test. If they did well on the test, you say things like great job. If they failed the test, you tell them you know they can do it and offer assistance, by maybe giving study techniques, tutoring etc. You could also inquire if there is something on their mind and send them to the right department for help. Students try harder to succeed when they see that their instructor has an interest in their success.
Paul,
Good advice for all instructors, especially new instructors. This is an important part of student engagement.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I sometimes relate my own experiences in going back to school as an adult. I use the old "If I can do it so can you" speech in a friendly banter. This tends to loosen up the student and open them to the pending experience. Just make sure you use a positive and constructive posture when you plant this seed.
Give them a sense of reassurance that this is something they can accomplish. They often times have overcome far more difficult obstacles than returning to school, so continually encouraging them is a task that I make sure is done.
Frances,
I agree big time. You are a graphic example of non-traditional success. You can model what it takes to be successful in your field while encouraging students that feel they can't do it or have been out of school too long. Keep up your efforts they are impacting the lives of so many students.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I recently finished college and passed the RN boards after 26 years of being out of school. Now, as an instructor, I share that experience as needed because I am the older college student and know what it feels like to go back after so long.This seems to really have an impact on not just the older students but the young ones also. It has given me the empathy needed as an instructor when student's say"I can't do this" plus by being empowered, I can better empower others. Do you agree?
Michelle,
Good supports to help students to get settled into your course and feeling that they can be successful. When fear is present there is a feeling that one should flee the situation and this is why so many students quit at the beginning of the class. We need to get them comfortable and settled into the course so they start feeling that they can be successful if they are willing to put forth the effort.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
There are several ways you can help students overcome their fear of not being successful in their college work. Specifically, it is important to set clear expectations for the classroom, offer guidance and immediate feedback to student performance, serve as a mentor, and have students identify their goals, how to achieve them, identify support systems, offer additional resources in the school to assist students who may experience personal/academic obsticals while in school, treat the student with respect, understanding and fairness, and allow students to share their experiences and time to get to know other members in their class.
