Effective Student Retention
Student retention is a challenge in itself. I think that as an instructor, your role is to be involved, keep the discussion interesting, and focus on goal setting. What I like to do is have students share what their overall end goal is, not just to complete the course. There is long term and short term goals and so often students need to see short term goals to accomplish their long term goals. For the most part students do not even define what they want in a career. They are so focused on just getting through the classes. If there was some way to channel these students with positive thinking and motivation then maybe schools would have the opportunity to retain them in the long run.
These are great ideas. In teaching adult learners I recognize that my class has to be "worth it" for them to rush around in the morning, use gasoline to get to class, pay a babysitter and give up time with family to do homework. I am keenly aware of the environment I must create for them.
I do some similar things with my students as well. I always start each session by having them let me know where they are in their education, what their goals are and when they hope to achieve them. It is a great ice breaker and gives me a sense of where they are. In this way I am better equipped to give them what they need to move forward.
