I believe the human factor is critical in retaining students. When I was a returning adult student, I came with the whole bag of responsibilities that come along with having a family... without professors who understood (yet still expected me to complete my assignments) I may not have graduated with honors. In fact, I may not have graduated at all! Being compassionate does not mean lowering expectations--whether a student has personal issues or is struggling with an assignment. It is a way of reinforcing the value of the student's intellect and the strength of their drive to succeed.
I greet my students every day; ask them how you are doing to day by doing this I think it brings the human factor to it rather then just a student with an ID.
Hi Gary,
Good strategy. Let me know how this works out for you.
Gary
I have always had a hard time remembering students names. I will take a picture on day one of my next class and put their names under it and I am sure they will be assured that I care.
Hi Joe,
Good point about how students need to be supported and encouraged if they are going to be successful. By helping them to feel they can be successful you have in effect been providing customer service to them as they are the customers in your college.
Gary
Sometimes even our best efforts to retain a student fail. As a dedicated professional we frequently ask ourselves if we have done everything we could to positively impact a student. We listen to their concerns. We offer alternative ways to learn the material. Ultimately the decision to succeed lies with them. If the student does not succeed this time, perhaps the next, when his situation has improved. It is noble to wonder if we could have done more as instructors, but realistically the burden is with the student.
I try to keep in mind as when I was in customer service that if there is no element of Human Factor in dealing with customers then my Job is typicaly going to be not be as sucessful as when I treat a customer with the Human Factor in mind. Now that I teach for a living I find that students as well as customers are no different and that they both need to have that element of trust and confidence in you in order to accomplish your goal.
Hi Jennifer,
Great way to bring the human factor into the classroom. By keeping it in the front of your mind you are able to relate more effectively with your students and help them to catch a glimpse of their future opportunities.
Gary
As human beings, we desire that feeling of belonging. We want to feel we have worth and that what we do is recognized and valued.
Keeping this in mind is the key to ensuring I am seen as approachable, caring and fair. Students want to feel empowered, and an active part of the learning process. I continually remind my students that we are partners in the learning process. I remind them that I also learn from them as they share their life experience. When students feel they are valuable contributors, their level of excitement about learning intensifies, which impacts their retention. Additionally, when they see how the material readily applies to what they face at work each day, their connection to the learning process is strengthened.
As students come into the classroom, I call them by name and ask about their day. When they express they have had a particularly stressful day at work, it helps when I assure them we will have fun in class and help them unwind. As we cover the material in a very interactive way, I can start to see the stress of the day lighten. I can see they have hope that what they are learning will help them achieve their goals. Students want to feel that connection to the material, to the learning process, to their peers and to me. I am reminded that I must always keep the human factor in the forefront of my mind, guiding my instructional methodology.
I really enjoyed this lesson! I try very hard to learn the names on the first day of class although I find it very difficult. Any ideas of doing this would be great. I have noticed that if you greet the student by name when they come it makes a bid difference. I liked also the personal contact and recognition daily idea as well.
Hi Craig,
It is unfortunate that you had to experience such a situation but as evidenced by your comments it was an experience was not lost on your teaching strategy. Your students are benefiting from your experience by having you include them and helping them to feel accepted in the course. Keep up the good work.
Gary
Hi Julie,
Good point about being able to share student successes. This is what keeps most of us coming back to the classroom/lab day after day. The "ah-ha" moments students experience fires us up as much as the students because then we know we are making a difference in their lives.
Gary
The Human Factor is extremely important concerning student retention. Having been in a situation where I was not acknowledged, I can understand what happens to students in this situation. I try to learn my students' names as quickly as possible, and start each class on a lighthearted note with a little joking around and try to get all my students involved. The more relaxed I can make it, the easier the experience can be for the students as well as myself.
I agree with you Andrea. If you don't enjoy your job, you shouldn't be there.
If the students know that you care about them succeeding in the class, they are more likely to come to you when they are having problems in the class. They are more likely to talk to you prior to considering dropping the class.
The positive thing about working with students is that you get to share in the student's successes--whether they be large or small. That is the greatest thing.
Hi Christopher,
You do have a challenge learning that many names so frequently. The rewards of your efforts is worth it as you mention due to the rapport that is developed as a result of your being willing to put forth the effort to learn their names.
Gary
The human factor is huge, by acknowledging students you are showing them that you care about them and their progress. I make it a personal necessity to be able to call all my students by name, at least by the end of the first week of class. This can be a chore and require a bit of extra time on your part, but the results are worth it. the students take note of their instructor doing this. Here at my campus, since we are a career college, the classes are only 3 weeks in length and I teach 2 classes a day. this does present me with an extra challenge as every 3 weeks I have to learn between 50 to 60 names and match them with their faces, believe me it is not easy. The Rapport that this builds with the students though is invalueable. They just need to feel that someone actually cares about them.
Hi Mohan,
Well said and a great perspective on how students need to be treated and respected in a class.
Gary
This has to be one of the most important factors. Students must know that the instructors does care about their education and them as individuals. This builds strong relationships between instructor and students.
I consider this aspect as THE most important factor in student retention. By treating the students as real respectful human beings, we instructors will be able to raise their self respect to very great heights so that they not only stay but achieve high accademically.
