Get Your Students Hired
Olaolu,
This is why it is important to know what the resources are of your school so you can refer students to these resources when needed. This shows the students you are concerned about them and their success.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Agreed that instructors are critical but students also have a critical role to play by making sure that thier personal issues is well taken care of.
Most of the student i encounter drop due to personal issues beyond the instructors control.
Amber,
Congratulations on your educational progress so far. You are almost there and soon will be a new doc ready to expand your contributions to education and student lives. You have the insight of being a long time student so your instructional planning will be more targeted in reaching all of your students. Looking forward to hearing great things about your teaching success, soon to be Dr. Cochran.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Hello Dr. Meers,
Thank you for responding to my imput on the Forum. I look forward to applying the techniques and applications that I was provided while taking this course. One of the great things I enjoy about teaching is my ability to relate to the students on an educational level. I have been attending college courses since 2001. I have completed all required courses and I am currently working on my dissertation. Having continuously faced the challeges of student society certainly gives me "one-up" when engaging with my students.
Thanks,
Amber Cochran
Amber,
Good approach to bring the human aspect of teaching to your students. Knowing they have your support is so important in keeping them engaged and focused throughout the course. The human factor in teaching is so critical and you are bringing that each time you enter the classroom.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Hello Dr. Meers,
I have several ways of engaging my students in class and trying to build a rapport. On the first day of class, I do not just explain my expectations of them, but I allow the students to offer their suggestions of expectations that they have of me as their instructor. I think this is an important aspect because I can try and meet these expectations easier having known more about them ahead of time. I also make myself available outside of class as well for those who are afraid to speak up in the classroom.
Regards,
Amber Cochran
John,
Been there in terms of not being supported by my college in relation to equipment or supplies I needed. Did the best that I could with what I had and then worked with my students on how to overcome this situation. It was a teachable moment if you will in terms of working through challenges in the workplace.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Besides the teacher, I submit that the support the instructor gets is important as well. For example, I ordered cables for a networking class to enable a hands-on lab. Those cables were not approved* for the course -- the hands-on opportunity was lost. I had to find another way to make the course appealing to the students. Meetings those student expectations -- they were expecting a hands-on opportunity -- was challenging. Redirecting the student's disappointment required an effort that could have been "spent" in other endeavors.
*It took me almost a year of repeated paperwork/justification to get those cables.
Larry,
Well said. By following your suggestions we are going to be able to engage the students and help them move forward in their career preparation.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
This is verry true. Sometimes the students don't realize how some things are to be done on assignments and us as teachers need to understand and respect that of them. The best way is to go over what it is that they need help on and work more with them in the class so they are more aware of the principles.
I usually give each student folders for their work. I hand out the folders so that I can remember their names and they know I am interested in their success. I also tell them that I want them to succeed in the class.
Alicia,
The key is follow up with students so they know someone cares about them and their success. You are demonstrating such caring through your outreach to them when they miss or need some additional input on an assignment.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Some effective retention strategies that I have used before would be to call students when missing. Make sure students have contact information on the instructor. Have a open line of communication. Set aside open hours tutoring to assist if needed. Review all assignments and exams, in doing so you can identify where students are struggling and offer help if needed. Make sure to give student positive feedback. Setting guidelines and holding students to those guidelines. This makes the students more accountable and responsible for the class.
Daniel,
This approach is so important to student success. Knowing they have a supportive instructor helps to motivate and encourage student learners when they are struggling.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I always try to provide one on one time for all students especially the ones who are struggling.It seems to give them comfort and security nowing that the instructor is coaching them on.
Jim,
I like the way you are developing your skills as an educator. You are seeking ways to enhance and expand your expertise and this is important to your continued growth as an educator as well as effective communicator. My suggestion is to continue the strategies you are using and be open to learning new ways of sharing your content. Also, I use "goodies" in my classes as well. Adults are just taller children when it comes to being rewarded for doing a good job, plus it makes for a fun class when they earn chocolates.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Today I find that most of my students, young and old, have jobs and many more responsibilities than I had when in school. Several of my students work through the night. I try to identify these students, and remind them of any support systems we have for them. I will remind them while addressing the class, as a whole, of upcoming deadlines and what times I am available for personal instruction.
So true... several years ago while teaching Mathematics, a professor came in (unannounced) to evaluate me. He later told me that I had said 3 times during the 30 minutes that "oh, this is easy!". He told me "Jim, of course it is to YOU! You're the teacher!" He is exactly on point! I realized that if a student wasn't getting what I had told them 'is easy' then it resulted in the student feeling really dumb because they couldn't do something that 'is easy'!
As a follow-up, in all classes that I teach, I will tell the students to catch me when I say "this is easy" and to let me know immediately! I always have a bag of chocolates and give the reward for telling me this!
I'm always wanting to improve, thus, I am opened to your suggestions and feedforward! ... jim :)