I believe it takes the reinforcement in the classroom to help the student get conferrable returning to college. In my opinion, the pre classes can get the student motivated and conferrable before their major classes. Test taking skills can also help the student prepare them for taking major classes. It is important to prepare the student for taking test because most major require a state board or certification exams.
Having guess speakers from that certain field could cause better motivation and encouragement for being successful in college.
Joanna,
Good advice to give to such students. Test anxiety is very real for some students so anything you can do to calm them down and get them to focus on what they know and how to share it with you is going to be of help. For the most part they are much more knowledgeable than they think they are if they can settle in and perform on the assessments that are given.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I try to reinforce that everyone has different strengths and the most important part is understanding the information presented and how it will apply to their career. Some students get hung up on bad test grades and by going over the test with the class I find many really do understand the information but stress shuts the brain off a the time of testing. I try to remind them of the importance how thier mental state affects their performance and part of beign successful is addressing this issue.
Darcey,
This is such an important step in getting them settled into a new course. By answering their questions and reducing their fears through information you are helping them to see their role in the class and how this course will move them closer to their career goals.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Day 1 of a class for me is "fear and anxiety control." As I review the syllabus and class requirements I let them know, at each critical point; how they can succeed, what my role is to help them succeed, that they are not alone struggling with the content - I am there for them and with them. And that it is okay for them to stumble a little; this is new for them and that is why I am here - to help them succeed. I also discuss different types of learners and make this an open discussion because I find students are very critical with each others "speed" of learning and we discuss different "styles" of learning.
Ray,
Students as you have experienced really perk up when you share some of your experiences with them. These experiences demonstrate the relevancy and application of what you are teaching them. Keep up the sharing it is yielding great benefits.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
By sharing examples of ones own expereinces and being patient in the learning curve
Kevin,
Good strategies. I try to remember that adults are just taller children in many ways. My students like to play games and share laughs. These activities help to keep the students engaged and moving forward in the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Tracey,
This is very important to do. What are some of the most effective forms of feedback from your perspective?
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Sarah,
Knowing they have the support of their instructor is a good way to increase their confidence. We can provide a variety of different supports to help our students be successful if they are willing to put forth the needed effort.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Sandy,
This is such an important part of teaching. The human factor needs to be present in all that we do and say with students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
So many times in teaching I utilize humor to deliver material to students. Sometimes, I will begin a class with a board game or card game. I find this relaxes students. I bring up lecture content during the game and then I find it is easier for them to follow along during lab time.
Offering positive feedback with assignments will offer encouragement and decrease fears.
Success is a state of mind and when a student show fear of being successful in college you must ease their fears. The best way to do this is to answer any questions that they might have. Giving as much feedback possible on a constant basis. I think that this would ease those types of fears.
I instruct all ages, but I have found that it is beneficial to everyone to be positive and to provide encouragement. They seem to try harder once they know that I believe in them. As a result most of them de-stress and do very well.
Jeffrey,
This is very important to do with adult learners as you mention. They need to feel that they have something to contribute and that they can be successful in the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Ronna,
Thank you for sharing your personal success story with us. You are an inspiration to your students as well as a role model. They can see that if they are willing to work hard they to can be the success you are. Your story increases their motivation.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Assure them that their life experiences can be applied(if they are adult learners) and that can aid in the comprehension of the material being presented.
I am both a graduate from the current program that I am now the Program Chair of! I have used my own success story multiple times when lecturing. I am a single parent with little to no help and also worked a 40 hour job on top of school. I was able to maintain the Deans list every semester through hard work and lots of diligence. Because I have so much in common with most of my students I am able to help them with issues such as developing different types of study habits to meet their current home life. Because of my own experiences I have been able to guide my students to be more succesful than they have ever dreamt of! graduation is a very proud day!
Nancy,
Trust is the foundation for the development of respect and two way respect leads to the development of rapport. The more we can show students that we respect them and that they can trust us the more engagement there will be in the course. It is a growth element for the students as they move through the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
