Retaining by building relationships
I find that having built relationships with students from my classes. Even when they are not doing well in another instuctors class they tend to come to me for advice and I have been able to talk them out of quitting or dropping the class.
I teach Visual Communications. I open every critique by counting the number of submissions. In the beginning of the course not all students submit work for "in process crits". As I complement the quality and give positive feed back students that have work to show but are "not sure" will bring that work forward. I will always thank them for sharing the project. Nexy time... there is alwys a higher percentage of "in progress" work on the wall.
This seems like great advise.
Hi Thomas,
Thank you for sharing the way groups change as they work together. This is good information for instructors that are not sure if using student groups will work for them. If organized correctly and given a viable work assignment groups are very effective for everyone. So, knowing that they become stronger as they work together throughout the course phase an instructor can help each individual student to see his/her role in the group.
Gary
What I try to do is build individual relationships with each of my students, but also build a relationship with the entire group. I establish rapport with the entire class by frequently congratulating the group for good efforts in completing a class project or on the success of a test or quiz. Sometimes I'll just tell the group how much I enjoy the class--I do this, of course, in a genuine and sincere way. After a while I'll notice that the group has gelled in a postive way, and that they become less of a group and more of a team.
I like to build a rapport with my students, because it makes it easier for them to come to me when they have a problem. They are less likely to drop the course.
I agree Shari.
I too have had many students from previous classes come to me to discuss the classes they are in and just want someone that will listen to them and their concerns.
But I have also noticed that some instructors listen to the student then they say negative things about that teacher which is bad.
An instructors personal feelings about someone else should never enter in the discussion with that student. We as instructors are to listen and guid, not bash one another.
Hi Shari,
This is what rapport is all about. The students trust and respect you and that is why they are willing to open up to you and share some of their lives issues.
Gary
