Enthusiasm and making connections to the students are key to communicating the information. I make sure to apply the information in my College Success course to my personal experiences as a student, their life experiences, and how it applies to life as a student.
I find that they are more engaged when they can see a connection between what they are learning and their educational goals. Moreover, I find that making the students laugh by pretending that I am "in the know" through tying the topic to pop culture is often successful. If nothing else, my students tend to remember my crazy examples and it sticks with them. Also, they have fun and feel more connected to me as an instructor.
Hi Michael,
Through understanding and rapport your students will be able to grow and benefit from your instruction. Good approach to helping them to see their future.
Gary
I believe it is critical to understand that every student is there to better themselves. It is important to establish a rapport with your students to understand how to help them reach their goals and objectives.
Talking to my students from both current and previous classes allows me to update or tweak what and how I teach the course. It is an ongoing process that doesnt stop.
Hi Angelo,
Well said on all your points. Your last statement captures why we are all in education in the first place. The connection between the student and the learning process helps them to create a future for themselves. When they come back time after time feeling good about what is going on in class, we have them hooked on learning.
Gary
There are no schools if there are no students!
Experience is the best teacher in employing the most effective retention strategies in the classroom. However, teacher education courses as well as seeking the advice of more experienced teachers will help. New teachers must be mentored by either the Director of Education or the Senior Instructor on campus.
Knowing the students is the key element in this process. "Knowing" involves a one-on-one chat with each student, skills assessment, and learning styles. While most students learn through guided instruction, others would prefer learning by doing.
You need to set the standards of the class to be a replica of those in the workplace so that all students will either meet or exceed these standards. Soft skills such as meeting deadlines, reporting to class on time, and work ethics must be incorporated in these standards.
The "Human Factor" is also an excellent element. It involves both instructor and students. Adult learners must observe that their instructor demonstrate the confidence, skill, knowledge, and attitude that must be acquired through the course. While recognizing the many challenges that students face today, instructors must always be consistent in ensuring that students experience every unit of learning. Students mut know that instructors are available to provide reinforcement lessons/activities to enhance their learning. Reinforcement can be done through the internet, phone call, or other means of media.
A daily or weekly assessment of students' achievements must completed. Instructors must correct, grade, and evaluate students' work. Teachers must notify their students of ways to improve their performance to meet the stated standards.
For me, when students return to class with great enthusiasm for learning, then and only then, can I consider that the strategies used are effective.
Karen,
I also use your approach at the end of the term and also during the term. I also bring in students from my previous classes and sometimes after they are out of school just to share their experiences. This goes a long way.
Hi Karen,
Great way to start a new class. I am sure your new students are excited and motivated as a result of how you set the stage for the course. Having your previous students come in is always good because they can tell it how it is plus give the new students hope for their own success.
Gary
On the Last day of class, After my students final project presentations : we have a talk about their projects ,what they found interesting and what part of the construction process they found to be a challenge. This provides me with information on how I might improve my approach in my next class.This has helped me develop different ways to explain and demonstrate steps - that appeal to my students learning style.
Also I sometimes have students from a previous class come in and speak to my new students during the first week and give short personal stories on the challenge they experienced when first learning some of the material, and how they overcame it. My new students are always encouraged when they hear these sucess stories from their peers.
Hi Randy,
You make a number of good points about student retention. In relation to that you mention student ownership of the course. What are some strategies you use to develop that sense of ownership in your students?
Gary
Hi Erik,
Great overview of how to be a successful instructor. I really like you last line. Engaged and excited students will keep coming to class. By doing the things that you listed above that line it will happen. Students will complete their training.
Gary
Retention is a constant thought at a for-profit school. In fact it is more than the academic standards. Thus it is imperative that instructors develop an understanding of each student in order to facilitate a positive learning environment to promote student retention. I try to relate as much of the material to each student so as to give them a sense of understanding about the material. Additionally, developing a student's sense of ownership in class helps foster the idea that they can take something away from class and not just a credit on a transcript.
I would say that instructors need to be open to receiving feedback, as well as giving it.
The feedback may not be in written form, as on a test, or an evaluation sheet. It may be given in body language, facial expression, or genuine disinterest.
Engaging learners individually, and daily may be a daunting task—sometimes seemingly impossible. But if we can keep the group as a whole interested, moral high, and energetic; even those who may have hit a rough patch the day before will get back into the swing of things.
Playing catch up certainly isn't the ideal when it comes to human interaction (why am I talking to a machine), but it does benefit everyone—student and instructor.
Another way to become aware of effective retention strategies is to break out of our habits. Like the module mentioned, have fun. Try something that seems childish (yet relates to the subject), and watch your students get the sense of accomplishment on a simple task. The building of skills, ego, self worth, and interaction is easy on such a simple and solid foundation.
Having my students "play" with folding paper, paste, and other childish media works wonderfully when they see the correlation to imposition, printing and book binding (they no longer doubt their abilities to do clean precise work).
When students are excited about class, when they get a sense of accomplishment everyday, and they see their career goals getting closer everyday...the issue of retention resolves itself.
Hi Jeffrey,
Yes, it is important to "listen" to what your students are telling you through both words and actions. This way you can make any changes that need to be made to keep the class on task and progressing.
Gary
Keeping in tune with the students is a good start. If you listen to their concerns you can start to model your strategies from the feedback your students give. I think you have to do this on a daily basis in order to be effective.
Hi Douglas,
Thank you for sharing that story about the support and encouragement that you gave that student. It is stories like this that keeps us in the field of teaching. We can never forget we are making a difference in the lives of our students, no matter how challenging our classes become.
Gary
Hi Rulon,
I commend you for your efforts in setting the students at ease and giving them a welcome. Knowing you care about their success is very important to students. It really helps to keep their motivation levels high.
Gary
I beleive one can see it in the student. Some students show eagerness to learn, ask lots of questions.some must be pulled along and encouraged much more. I think we all know that if you show caring for your students they will usually see that in an instructor. We need to be able to see that a student is too unsure of themselves. He/she maybe second guessing why they came in the first place. Talking with and encourageing them can make a world of difference. I had a student say something just loudly enough that I could over hear that they felt like everything they touched was ruined and they should find another career choice. I waited until after class and approached him. I let him vent and then I explained how I could and would help and work with him. gave him encourgement and it really made a difference in his outlook.
The awareness becomes evident when students put up their personal projects and show a readiness to listen and learn when the instructor says, "I think we will go ahead." I have always made a personal challenge to greet and acknowledge each student with a positive hello, and a greeting that says i am glad to see them in class. In doing this I seldom have disruptive students. Students always tell me they are glad to come to my class, it is their favorite. I know this is true because I give them a safe place to learn, and an environment where it is OK to make mistakes.
Hi Tony,
As have I. If an instructor becomes too involved they can lost their way. We can show professional concern and try to help with solutions or refer students to places that can be of help and then we have to step away. If we lose our way that two people will have been lost, the student and a professional educator. That is a loss that doesn't need to occur.
Gary
