Hi Ramon,
What have you found to be an effective way of establishing rapport with your students?
Gary
The human factor can make a create a trusting environment where the student feels cared for. Students need to feel that the instructor is there to listen and help in anyway possible and encooraged to succeed.
I believe in the human factor. It is very important to me and the students
By establishing rapport with the students, they become more accepting of the instructor's teaching style even if it might be different from their learning style.
Yes, I tried to bring in professionals when I taught business communications at a ground college. I think it's hard to instill work ethics; the best we can do is to continue your suggestions--try to expose them to the reality of the work place.
I realized more than ever that the human factor is extremely important when I paid attention to it as a student. In my favorite graduate courses, I was able recognize that they involved instructors who remembered my name, my stories as they related to the class, and genuinely cared about me. As a result, I have focused my own teaching practices on the human element so that I my students share the same positive experiences as I did.
I think that the human factor is essential. Each student deserves to receive individualized attention, and it is the instructor's responsibility to make students feel that they can be successful academically and professionally. It is not always easy, as many students have faced great challenges and adversities in their lives. But it is rewarding -- as students grow to become even better writers, scholars and thinkers, it is quite worthwhile for both the instructor and the students!
Our whole business is so "human driven" that it would seem most of our efforts should be focused on the human aspect.
Hi Lataunia,
You are so right about the human factor being important in the instructional process. Students need to know you care about their success, even when they don't work as hard to achieve success as we would like.
Gary
Thats awesome you say that people need to know that they are cared for. That is so important. I hate to feel like I am just a number or a name; but I am real live person with feelings.
Cheers-
Hello
The human factor is very important in retention. Students need to know you care and are concerned about their class progression. I like to send my students email and notes about whats going on with them. They feel very appreciated by this gesture.
It is the most important factor. Students of all ages need positive reinforcment that they have made the correct decision in returning to school for what ever reason. As instructors or humans we all want to be treated fairly and we want to learn.If we surround them with confidense and real world situations they will feel trusted and worthy of the education they want and they will feel better about them selves and your whole class will bennifit from it.
Jeff
The human factor is no less important in the classroom than the syllabus and textbook. Students must feel as if you are genuinely interested in them, or else it can actually affect their success in the course.
Gary,
I am glad that you said this because sometimes I feel like administrators above me would like for me to just pass problem students and not stand firm to the principle that they need to earn their course grades. It helps to hear from other instructors that it is okay to make them work for it.
Thanks, Jennifer
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for sharing this example. The key phrase in your comments is "that you would figure out a way for him to pass no matter what." I tell my students that I have already graduated that is why I have the big desk in the classroom. So since I have graduated it is not my problem in terms of figuring out how they can pass if they don't attend and do the work. What I will do is be supportive and provide them with the opportunities to develop the skills and acquire the knowledge to be successful. It is up to them to participate to the point that this occurs.
Gary
The humanfactor is the most important in student retention. By treating students as humans we establish relationships that encourage trust and respect. These resulting characteristics provide a positive valuable learning environment.
The day we stop treating students like humans is the day we should be out of the teaching profession. It is pivotal to tap into the human experience.
That is a great example of getting back what we give. I see this entitlement mentality in students often. In fact, I recently had a conversation with a student who has missed a tremendous amount of class - after repeated warnings and urgings to stop missing. He was trying to figure out how he could still pass after missing over half the class. I asked why he had missed so much and he said he just didn't like bakeshop. He was furious when I explained he would have to make up all of the work missed in order to get a passing grade. It amazed me that he had just assumed all along that I would figure out a way for him to pass no matter what.
Hi Michele,
The way I rein them in or bring reality to their house is to have them talk with a person from the field. I have the person come in or I send the student out for a job shadow experience. The person in the field tells it like it is and doesn't let them send attitude about how wonderful they are. Kinda like a boot camp experience. The majority really understand it after the experience. Others never get it and wonder why they can't catch a break when it comes to career success.
Gary
Hi Gary,
You make an excellent set of points of how to be successful. For example, today I was in Home Depot, supposed to be noted for their customer service. Three associates were at the door, two standing and one sitting. The two standing asked if they could be of help, the sitting one was playing a hand held game of some kind. He didn't look up or act interested in anyway. One of the two others took over when I told them that I was in need of a plumbing part and that was his area. He took me to the aisle that had the part I needed made sure it was the correct part and I was ready to go. As I walked back by the sitting associate he was still playing his game. When raises come about I know this person is going to be shocked because he can't catch a break in terms of raise or promotion. We both know we get back what we invest and he is investing in neglect of customers. The other two will move up with the company as a result of them "getting" it.
Do all you can in this area because customer service and support is lacking in so many different businesses and industries.
Gary
