Hi Karyn,
Good way of sending a very clear message of support for your students. It is amazing that such a simple act of getting phone numbers from students can really help students to feel involved in the learning process.
Gary
Hi Rachel,
The key is just what you mentioned. We are all human with human situations that come up in our lives. Through respect and understanding for each other both instructors and students can develop appreciation for how life may impact the educational process.
Gary
WITHOUT A HEART
Without a heart !
There is no connection between your hands and your mind !
Without a heart !
You can not understand how it is to be kind !
Without a heart !
There is no connection between your class and desk !
Without a heart !
You do what is called for, in black and white I guess !
Without a heart !
You will not teach what you think is real !
Without a heart !
You keep your job and that is what you feel !
Without a heart !
You count to ten and try to show respect !
Without a heart !
You don’t understand and you can not reflect !
Without a heart !
You teach what, and how you were taught !
Without a heart !
You expect students to fight the way you faught !
Without a heart !
You do not want to go back in time to see !
Without a heart !
You don’t think, where would you end up to be !
Without a heart !
You have to grade while you face that stare.
Without a heart !
The students think that you do not care.
Without a heart !
Does not mean that you do not care.
Without a heart !
You have a heart and you are well aware
Without a heart !
They will think you have no loving hand.
Without a heart !
They tried hard but you don’t understand.
Without a heart !
You don’t give what they did not earn.
Without a heart !
You may not see what the student learned.
Without a heart !
The student will think that they understood.
Without a heart !
They blame themselves though they did the best they could.
Without a heart !
They won’t come to you when they need advice.
Without a heart !
They are sure that you won’t be nice.
Without a heart !
You want students to feel what you felt.
Without a heart !
They have to play the same hand you were dealt.
Without a heart !
You don’t think how their life was before.
Without a heart !
When they have problems you choose to ignore.
acknowledging the students each and every day and making them feel important
Hi John,
Well put. The key is the human factor and you have given a number of suggestions on what instructors need to focus to keep the students in school and engaged in learning.
Gary
Hi William,
Excellent snapshot of how an instructor needs to look at a class of new students. The understanding of human behavior is critical just as you mentioned. By having that understanding you can determine the best way to show all students they are a part of the learning process and that you are there to support them.
Gary
The first day of a class I have my students recheck their phone numbers on my roster and mark the one they prefer I call if they aren't in class. It lets them know I expect to hear from them or I will call them myself. Ususally they are more proactive about "calling" out if I have taken that extra step.
Being aware of retention we need to make ourselves known to students that we are human and share our life experiences with them. By doing this it opens up the lines of communication between instructor and student and makes the student more at ease with their learning enviroment.
I fail in the employer/employee approach because I loose empathy, I'm too guarded. Now I just try to be a "director," offering guidance, guide lines, and vision. I'm able to approach my students more warmly this way, and we share goals.
This is an easy one. Pay attention to your students so they know that they are not just a number. Be aware of situations that my cause them to struggle or want to quit school. Help them find solutions to their problems. Talk with them and let them know that you care about them and their education. When necessary point them in the right direction or to the right people who can help. Pay attention to Maslow's hierarchy issues. Pull the student off to the side at their convienence to see what may be holding them back from being successful. School is hard enough without the other disstractions that are not directly related classes.
Assuming that the instructor is a caring individual, an expert in their field of study in which they instruct students and are disciplined professionals, retention is a natural process. It is quite easy to see, hear, feel, sense etc. if an individual that you are intrusted in being a teaching mentor too is engaged, interested, bored, challenged etc. Signs like attendance and performance are obvious to respond too, but directed questions and conversations, body language, physical appearance, moods,interaction, etc., all are means of communication that the active instructor responds to. Understanding human behavior is very helpful and necessary if positive intervention/support is to be realized.
Recognizing that each student is an integral part of the class system helps to build rapport and ultimately will positively affect retention. Letting students know they are respected and valued and that their feedback is respected and valued communicates this to students. Ask for and actual accept student feedback and use appropriately.
Instructors can become aware of effective retention strategies by researching methods from other instructors, participating in professional development activities such as this course. Further, the instructor should ask clarity from the administration on effective strategies the school has set up to help instructors manage retention issues.
Hi David,
I think this is critical with helping you to establish rapport with your students. Keep up the good work.
Gary
Hi Mary,
Good point. Fresh eyes can really help to "spot" something that is really helping the students to learn or that needs to be changed.
Gary
Hi Don,
Good list of retention strategies that should really help to keep students engaged and focused.
Gary
Read articles, take courses, ask other instructors ect... There are many ways to become aware of retention stratagies. One must learn how to both emplement these stratagies and assess their effectivness. Also, a repitoire of various stratagies will be needed due to the fact each student is an individual.
I feel that as an instructor we need to realize and accept that "life" happens to everyone, especially our students. I feel that we as instructors need to set clear and attainable goals, however we also need to take into consideration that some people may struggle to stay focused. So getting to know our students and their situations sometimes aids in distinguishing if a student is struggling for a legit reason or is just unfocused.
One way to develop a strategy is to ask for an observation or peer review. It does not have to be a formal observation. Sometimes a new set of eyes and ears can really be a fresh way to look at the "weather" in the classroom.
Talking to student constantly, I also like to shake the students hands when they enter class and say hello. We as a school handout perfect attendance certificates at the end of each module.
