Student Connections
In the career college setting, it can be more difficult for students to get acquainted with one another. Many students have multiple commitments, and there just isn't time for much socializing on campus.
I think it's vitally important for students to form friendships with one another. This is an important part of an education, in my view. With respect to retention, I suspect that students who feel more "attached" to their classmates are more likely to persist in their studies.
When students study full-time and live on campus, many of these bonds develop without any real effort on the part of the instructor. Not so in the career college world. I'd welcome any thoughts on how instructors can serve as catalysts in this area.
One suggestion would be to have a social of some type during the course of the class. Select a date/time that is acceptable to all or most of the students and then spend some time socializing; although the instructor must still maintain his or her mantle of leader.
William,
Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I suppose you'll never know what just what your former instructor was hoping to accomplish, although it sounds like the experience was largely positive.
Your response reminds me of the notion that people seem to form bonds when placed in a challenging or even traumatic situation. As instructors, we probably don't want to create trauma in the classroom; but a healthy dose of competition may work for some.
I do like the idea of group work, and I will try it again in one of my classes this quarter. Thanks again for your insights!
Scott,
As a commuting student over the last couple years, I've seen instructors foster student collaboration through group projects, and on the negative side, by creating competition with the need for students to unite to survive.
The group work was effective in bringing together people - virtually and in informal discussions over coffee. We built top ranked presentations and model products. The collaboration was effective but didn't result in lasting friendships.
Our forced connectedness built a bond that was extremely valuable for sharing technology skills and study notes. Our connections lasted through the program and into friendships in our private lives. We came together for more than one class and supported each other in numerous individual career areas.
Though we all disliked the instructor whose methods forced us to join together for survival, and would never believe she fostered our connections by design, we do owe her a debt for our lasting attachments.
