Terry,
I have found the same thing to be true. Just recently I started emailing each student individually when they missed an assignment. I let them know I was concerned and offered suggestions on how to catch up. While not all have responded, many have. The students have thanked me for the email and encouragement.
Karen,
So true and we need to remember this when we have interaction with our students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Student retention is directly affected by the level of concern and enthusiasm the students receive within the classroom environment.
One way is to have them involved in establishing classroom rules and guide lines make them feel like it their own and establish the environment
Harlan,
I do as well for the reason you state. They are draw on these examples from the field. These examples show the students how the content can be applied and increases the value of what you are teaching to the students because they see relevancy and application in these examples.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I use my real world work experiences all the time and they really seem to be drawn to that.
I believe student retention can be increased by simply talking to students. Really understanding what the want out of the course and how I can provide that for them. Sometimes a student is waiting for someone to notice they are having trouble and they will not ask for that assistance they may need to succeed.
James,
Like this connection because you are tying your content directly to their personal goals within the field. They need to be able to see this connection clearly if they are going to be able to move into their chosen field and be successful. So many of them do not see real life with a clear perspective as well as the hard work it takes to be successful no matter what the field is.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Since I'm teaching an overview of a wide ranger of business concepts for people in a creative field, I open each class by asking them what their career goals are and then, as we cover the material, I point out how each subject relates to the goals expressed by my students.
Leslie,
You are offering instructional variety which is so important in keeping the attention of students. Your approach lets them reset their brains frequently and gives value to what you are teaching.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
An instructor can increase student retention by treating each student as an individual and by being open to different backgrounds and perspectives. At the start of each term, a welcome letter is sent to each student. Through the letter they are able to get a preview of the information that will be presented and why it is important for their chosen area of concentration. Several suggestions for how to be successful in the coarse are also presented. I try to learn student names as quickly as possible and then develop a rapport with them. The material is presented by tying in the lesson to real life situations. I also may ask for student feedback in how the material is presented and if they have suggestions for improving instruction. I also use a variety of activities such as short lecture, question and answer, videos, and online instruction, and review sessions.
Daniel,
Your approach brings in the human factor which is an essential part of the teaching/learning process. As a former student you can help them to see that you do understand what they are going through and that you are there to help them be successful if they are willing to put forth the required effort.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I like to use humor and bring in as many 'real-life' examples as I can that relate to what I am teaching. I also make it a point to share with my students that I am not some 'Sage on a Stage' and that I have sat where they are sitting and the difference between us is my experience and time in the field.
Nathan,
Repetition is a powerful learning tool and it needs to used in a variety of ways. You have shared a number of different ways that gets the students into the content and helps them learn it and use it and the repetition gets the content and skill sets stored in their working memories. This is what learning should be about.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In my experience, I have used repetition. Seeing key words or concepts in all forms of learning, ie power point, case studies, simulations, concept maps. I also use 15 question quizzes.
Billy,
You are in a great position as a former student now back at your school but with 20 years of experience in between. This gives you insight that will aid in your instructional planning and student interaction.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I am new to the world of teaching. I have only been teaching for 3 months now. I am now teaching at the school I went to almost 20 years ago. I found that most of the students are having very similar experience's as I was when I attended this school. Knowing this I can view the class from the students point of view. I can relate to them and help whether it is a personal issue or a educational issue. Also I will need to keep improving on this subject as I keep teaching.
Edwin,
Relevance and application need to be present in our instructional delivery. Just as you mention students need to see the value of what is being taught and how it applies to their career growth. The more we can do that the more engaged our students will be. Good point, thanks for bringing it up.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
A lot of the students I have didn't realized how involved the instruction would be and are overwhelmed by the amount of information they are exposed to. the strategy is to have objectives that are carefully written so the student can focus on the most important aspects that he needs to remember and which support the assessments and outcomes. The instructor needs to ensure that the needed material has real world application and provide individual assistance to students who are struggling to show that you care about their progress. I find that students are more likely to drop out if they feel the instructor isn't there for them when they need help or move through the material too quickly.
Michael,
Good way to break the flow of the class and give your students an opportunity to laugh and reset their brains. They need breaks like this to keep their concentration on target.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
