By getting them involved in the learning process. By separating the class into groups for certain assignments and making each student a team player. In the jobs market they will eventually have to work with others to succeed.
Diane,
Well said and so true. The more connections we can help them make between the course content and their lives the more they will retain and use. One of the fun parts of being an instructor is seeing this happen. Ah-ha moments keep us coming back to the classroom over and over again.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
there are many ways an instructor can help increase a students retention.. One way is to link their Episodic Memory-life experiences and their Semantic memory-facts and concepts about the world, together./ In order for the student to understand, take in, retrieve and apply knowledge they must have an understanding of how and why its relevant.
The best way for someone to retain information for a long-period of time is to have them link it too something personal. I.E.: relationship, first love, vacation etc...
Once something becomes personal it becomes engrained in the memory, and makes the information much easier to retrieve.
Darlene,
An investment of time and listening to students yields great returns as you indicate. This forms the foundation of rapport development and the earning of mutual respect.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Getting to know your students is one of the most important ways to retain them. Talk to them before, during and after class. find out what they are thinking about the subject matter. Relax their fears and increase their involvement in the course. Amazing results can follow.
Yes, so do I. As an education manager, as well as a teacher, it can be very difficult to convince teachers that taking time to call or e-mail their students who miss class can make such a difference in whether that student comes back or not. When students miss one class, it is easy then to miss the next one. Soon they have missed several, and they start to fear the teacher's reaction when they return. Calling or e-mailing as soon as a student misses once, helps the teacher find out what is going on. Is the student ill and just needs a little help with make-up work? Is the student having transportation problems that financial aid or student resources might be able to help solve? Was the student just taking a skip day and needs to be reminded that if he/she comes back immediately, it will be easier to catch up than if a whole week off or more is missed. Contacting students helps instructors pass on critical information to department chairs if there are issues that managers need to be aware of. Managers call, too. But the instructor is probably the person with the most influence in the students' decision as to when and whether to come back to class and to seek solutions for any issues that may be holding the student back.
I think one attitude that instructors need to show toward students is respect. It becomes easy sometimes to compare our own education and accomplishments to those of our students and develop an attitude of superiority. But when we get to know each student as an individual, we can see so much to admire in their personal struggles to overcome challenges. Some of my students travel two hours to get to class, sometimes switching from walking to bus to subway. Students are holding down jobs and tending a home and family. When we listen to their comments, thinking more about the ideas than the grammar, for example, we see how truly perceptive they often are. Genuine respect can be conveyed in small and large ways, such as tone of voice, mannerly words and gestures, learning students' names, and finding the gems in students' responses and making comments that acknowledge their contribution, building upon what they have just said. This stance of respect will be internalized by students and rewarded with their time and attention, increasing retention as a natural result.
Hi Dr. Meers,
I try to give my students a sense of "belonging". From the start of the first class, I stress to them the importance of being in class and staying in class. Moreover, I try to create a relaxed classroom environment; one in which students can feel comfortable while obtaining their academic goals.
Retention can be increased by connecting content to real life situations so that students can understand the importance of the information. Also, allowing students to have input into the learning process is effective.
A instrucor can increase student retention by showing his or her students that they are there to support them. Instructors need to be available to help students who may need some extra tutoring. They also want to discuss any road blocks to learning with the students. In this was the students will that you care and will be more willing to stick it out even if they are going through a rough spot.
I make sure I personally call each and every student the day that they are absent to discuss the absence. I ask if they are ok, are able to get to school, and when they will be back. I also take some time to tell them about what they missed. Not every detail, but what they can do at home to keep up.
An instructor can engage students and see their class through the students eyes to ensure needs are met and instruction is interactive.
Q: How can an instructor increase student retention?
A: It is very important to make the student feel comfortable in your class. Developing a caring relationship with each student is critical to helping the student relieve any anxiety they may have about the course. This will go a long way in student retention.
I try to have contact with my future students on day one even though I may not have them in class for several weeks.If they feel like they belong they are more likely to stay the course
I think that if you find a way to get them invovled in the teaching process through discussion of the current topic they will be more interested and want to return tomorrow.
I try to vary the material to keep them active and retained in the learning process.
Dennis,
Good point. Connecting the dots for students between the content and their career goals really helps them to see relevancy and application to what they are being taught.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
An instructor can increase student retention by talking to them about what was just discussed/learned. This can make them think more about the subject, and can make it stick with them better.
Incentives rewards praise and recognition. Having a peer buddy system in place. Match a almost grad with newer student and have them mentor thru out the course.
Setting achievable and realistic goals help students succeed. If they have clear expectations of what is expected of them, not only in class, but also in the workplace, frustration can be minimized.
