Dr. Meers,
We all feel great when we get recognized. Students too feel great when their instructors show the respect and care to their progress in classroom, as well as to their sense of well-being. Many students appreciate it when I call them to check on them and offer to help them catching up with what they missed in class. Human touches such as asking how father's surgery went may also reflect the caring nature of the instructor.
Half the battle is getting them to school everyday. Once there, we can work on what issues are keeping them away.
I agree in supporting students and showing that you care, but the fine line is you can't care more than they do. I point out that I will work with anyone, but ultimately they have to want the success.
When you care more than the student, sometimes they manipulate the situation to what they feel is their advantage, passing the course. After graduating a program, they fail in real life and blame your program. Engage them or lose them,thats our job.
Retention is very important. The other thing we must also consider are the challenges put forward by work, home and other exterior impasses. Stundent must understand the roles in the classroom, and expectatoions as well as our understanding of thier learning styles.
I make it clear from day 1 that they must be prepared, attend classes and lectures or we have no common point to start from. Adjusting to learning styles is ok but to some extent they are thier for a reason and they must take the steps to strech the learning experience. In turn I must be open to help keep them on track to cover the required material. The fine line.
Hi Matt,
So true and critical to both learning and teaching success. The human factor contributes to career success so we need to help students to understand the role it plays in their future by modeling with them while they are students.
Gary
The human factor is extremely important in any learning enviroment. Students, understandably, want to be treated as people, not just a social security number. Getting to know them a bit should always be the first order of buisness for the instructor starting day one.
Hi William,
Another very good point. Knowing you have an instructor that is interested in you and your success really helps as a student when you have some struggles. You want to be successful because of the faith the instructor has in you. This is what rapport is about in teaching.
Gary
I feel it is important because students appreciate when an instructor is genuine and is passionate about what they are doing. This allows classroom relationships to be built as students can readily see how what they are doing in class translates to what they want to accomplish.
After giving the charnge to remember names of my students. I greet them every class period and it seems like they are more interested in what I am teaching that day opposed to when I didn't know their name with a face in the begining.
It is very important since humans are the students. We as instructors have to been sensitive to our students and treat them the way we want to be treated. I think respect is the key.
Our students also have many personal challenges. Some have even said being at school gets them away from those challenges and gives them a ray of hope that some day they will not have those challenges. When those students put effort into their education, I have compassion for their success.
The human factor is a major part of the student understanding and being open to the class discussion. If the student feels rejected, left out or isolated it will affect the attendance and performance.
When you invest in your students your students will invest in you. Making a human connection is very important to develop a healthy rapport with students. I don't want to be their friend but I want to be a trusted figure in their life who they can rely on.
Constant reinforcement helps greatly. Ask them how things are going in their personal life.
Students,people like to feel that they are apart of things going on around them. You as a instructor have to let the student feel that their input and needs are important.
Finding ways of being more understanding to everyday situations and life hassles that hender the attitudes of students. Uplifting & comforting the situations.
It is very important to let the student know that they are unique and valued.
It is improtant to pay attention to students non-verbal communication. Sometimes their body is telling a lot. If I am aware of something that might concern me, I will talk with them. Sometimes they just need to vent about something in their personal, school or work life. After listening I encourgage them to do the next right thing.
Hi Nancy,
I agree. The students need this type of support and encouragement so they will stay focused on success throughout the course.
Gary
I do believe that we need to focus on the positives with a sudent's success and encourage them to not focus on their shortcomings.
