Kristia,
Good way to develop rapport with your students. You are helping them to see themselves in their future role as professionals. This increases their motivation level along with their success rate.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I actively explain that we are all in the same industry, I have just been involved longer and am giving them information they need to succeed. We are always relating how items learned in class can be applied to their practices when they graduate. I find that how I treat them professionally and get them to have fun while they are learning this helps to get them thinking outside the box, and therefore, effects their retention in each class.
Leticia,
The instructor is the center of the retention formula. By establishing a connection with the instructor a student much more likely to stay in the course and work hard to be successful. This is how rapport is established.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe student retention has a lot to do with the instructor. Are the labs well explained? Are the lectures too boring or fun and exciting? I feel like there are less excuses for not attending class if they enjo being there.
Nancy,
You have a very comfortable and supportive approach to your class. You are letting them finds themselves in the class as adults and with respect. This lets the class grow from there as sessions are conducted.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I really believe that respect is the starting point for retention. On the first day of class, I tell them they will always be respected as adults. I never 'tell' them to do anything, I suggest options. When I find my class becoming distant I ask myself "If I were a student in this class, what would make me come every day?" This helps me to always thing about continuous improvement.
Michael,
Like your approach to professional development. The learning from both the best and the worst is a great way to find your own instructional style. I think every situation in which we find ourselves can be a learning experience if we want it to be. I suffered through so very BAD classes with terrible instructors but I felt since I was paying my own way through college that I was going to be in every class every day. The result was that I learned not only content but also ideas about how I could be a better instructor.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Primarily the instructor needs to be passionate about the subject he is teaching and he needs to be a subject matter expert in order to increase student retention. We have all been on the other end of the learning spectrum as students and I believe that we need to take away something positive from all of those experiences. What I mean by that is I have learned as much from bad instructors as I have from good instructors when it comes to teaching methods. If an instructor was exceptional, after the end of the class I took notes on all of the good techniques that he used to draw the students in and look at what made him a good instructor. If I had a poor instructor, I would take notes about the things that he did wrong and look at how he could have done things better. Either way I always look at the positive and use that information to build my techniques and improve my teaching methods. By doing these things as an instructor you can increase student retention.
Michael,
Thank you for sharing this example. I know it will be beneficial to other instructors. We need to look for all of the examples we can as we plan our instructional delivery and how to reach each student.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
One strategy I use is to relate the student's past work experience to the material I am presenting them. For instance, I was teaching anatomy about the heart and circulation. The student was a mechanic and understood hydrolics, filtration, and pressure systems. I correlated that same technical information into how the heart and systemic systems work in similar principle. The light came on and he understood the anatomy.
Nicole,
Clear and concise information about course expectations is a must. Building a connection through respect and rapport helps students to see that you value them and their contributions to the class. This is a good foundation from which to operate as an instructor.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Knowing their students, their interests and issues that may arise during the schedule course.Letting your students know your expectations upfront.
Showing students you care is very important and all interactions can be used to show students we care for them as their instructor. There are times when a quick response like as Cynthia described could show them this. If our lack of response could be perceived we don't really care, the wrong message could be taken by the student. I absolutely agree with Cynthia in her professional example.
I believe that by relating each section or topic to their career occupation or field of study it helps the students put the piece of their education into a career picture that is tangible.
Jen,
This is a very important of student retention. If you feel a part of a community and supported by someone in authority such as the instructor you are more likely to complete the course. As a student you see yourself as a part of a bigger effort than just coming to class. So we need to create and sell the idea of being a community of learners.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe it is also important to foster a sense of community within the classroom, or within the program.
Retention is often a product of a strong community. Students are wonderful in that they support and push each other.
Donna,
This is one of the enjoyable parts of teaching. Instructors get to be creative in their planning so they can make learning engaging for their students. This is a win win situation for everyone.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
When working with students in your classroom you should make their learning experience fun and exciting. This will help with student retention.
Norma,
Student love this. Closing out the class this way sets up the next class for the students. You are getting them excited about what is to come and that is a strong reason for their being in attendance at the next class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
You can get student retention by always ending a day with a Cliffhanger!!!!!!!!!!!!!
