retetion
retetion is an article that us as instructors really have not much control over due to individuals being raised by thier parents.
Hi Michael,
Right you are. If we are observant to the little signs the students are sending then we can be ready to provide encouragement and support when needed. Teaching requires that we be aware of so many things not just course content if we are going to be effective with keeping our students in our classes and preparing for their future.
Gary
There are many things that happen outside the classroom that affect student retention. It's important to know when to have someone else talk to the student or assist the student in some way. We may notice a change in attitude or appearance or some other area. A short conversation with the student might reveal a need for assistance from another department like student services or financial aid.
Hi Timothy,
Yes, you are one of the critical links to student retention. By establishing rapport with your students you will be doing a lot toward keeping students coming back.
Gary
I would have to say that in my class we as instructors have alot to do with retention based on how we handle the students and are able to comunicaste with them in a way they enjoy the class
Hi Mike,
Outside influences have a lot to do with whether a student completes the training or not. If you can develop a strong rapport with your students you might be able to help them through the tough times and get them to "stick" it out until graduation. If they feel you have an understanding of what they are going through they generally will try to stay in the program because they know you care about their success.
Gary
I've found that when retention is a problem, there is some deeper issue that needs to be addressed. If you can dig deeper, you may find issues with money or just plain old being homesick.
Hi David,
As the old saying goes you "catch more flies with honey than vinegar". Encouragement and positive feedback is the honey in the situation. By doing this the instructor can also deliver more critical assessment of student performance when needed because the student knows that it is accurate and needed since positive feedback has been forth coming when deserved.
Gary
Hi Vincent,
You are right about each student being different in their learning preferences. This is why it is important to develop different ways of presenting the information so the students can have a variety of ways to get and retain the required information.
Gary
Retention is very much so the student's responsibility. Especially the adult student. To blame the parents is not entirely fair to the parents. Students have to want to be where they are in life, and when they are, they will dedicate themselves to their learning environment. We, as instructors, are not here as sitters, but we are here as motivators, mentors, and leaders. To say students have retention issues due to their parents makes me feel like I'm giving up on them myself. They just want to be challenged, and maybe that hasn't fully occurred yet. Daily encouragement makes EVERYONE want to do their best.
Retention is a difficult thing, some students need hands on. Others function better by using thier notes. All people are different, takes time to place projects for them.
Hi Zbigniew,
Many students do not know how to take notes or work on learning how to retain new information. They are in need of strategies that will help them to do such, just as you mentioned the flashcards used by your parents. Memory for retention is known as semantic memory and needs to be developed just as with other parts of the learning process. Immediate use of newly acquired knowledge is one of those keys. If instructors can help the students to apply what they have just learned not only will the students retain more but they will be much more satisfied with the learning process.
Gary
I tend to view retention as a learned skill that is influenced by all. I agree parents have huge impact on it. My parent used flashcards for repetition. As student in college I audiotaped notes. I know few adults who take notes, than condence them to index cards. Key, I think, is repetition that involves multisences - it worked well for me.
to some extent that may be true in that they already have a set standard of study. But as instructors we cannot disregard that individual. We have the ability and the obligation to pull the interest of all of our students. We have to make our instruction personal to their background. There has to be something that they are interested in. Use it to pull them into the topic of instruction.
