Melonie, I incorporate those strategies as well. Some do "come around," but sometimes I just can't make a connection. How do you overcome that with outreach?
Gary, those are wise words indeed. Have you seen the mentality we often hear described in education: "I'm wonderful, so I must be given lots of money and promotions now." If so, how do you reign that in?
Hello, Dr.Meers,
As many fields, ours is one where people are recognized only after lots of hard work over many years. I talk about successful businesses and the people who accomplish great things in them. I point out that they've often done something really special under hard circumstances. I talk about the numbers of customers they please and then I move in for the kill: Are those great people somehow super-human? Do they know something my students won't know in the near future as they enter the field? are those great people part of a super-talented, one-off group that can never be replicated? Not really. They're people, just like the rest of us. But they've become part of a good organization and have worked hard to make it even better. They've honed the skills people in that organization must have. They've prepared themselves, worked through the tough spots and gone on to be part of a good team. In this way students see that they too can succeed if they will work on their own improvement and have faith in themselves.
The human factor is a crucial element in retention. If the instructor cannot head off or help to address student frustrations, then the student may not continue. If the students don't feel a connection with the instructor, then they may not accept the way the material is presented and evaluated.
The human factor is a very important part with student retention because it gives the student a place of belonging. Through my experience I have seen this with young and older students; they feel as if they are recieving more direct attention. If an instructor is not showing signs of concern then they will respond the same.
Hi John,
Well said and exactly on point. The human factor in teaching is a powerful motivator.
Gary
Students do not want to be treated like machines, numbers, or objects. If they are acknowledged and treated as individuals with personallitites, they will be in a more comfortable setting. This will also allow them to focus on the course and goals, not on being another number.
I feel it is one of the most important factors because it lets the students know that you are interested enough in them that you have learned there names and you are able to assist them on a more personnel basis. Learning about each students needs is very important to me as an instructor as well as the student.
Melonie,
I am working very hard to do just this. Currently I am the externship instructor for 2 classes of students. I merge my e-mails with a spreadsheet to include student names, grades, attendance documentation and feedback. My biggest challenge is time.
Hi Toral,
This is a very good point. By making your expectations and polices clear your students know what the requirements are but they also know they have an instructor that cares about their success. This way they can develop rapport with you and with that rapport comes respect for each other. This way they can grow as professionals.
Gary
The biggest motivator in my opinion is how you behave/relate/work with them. I have policies/procedures which are listed in the syllabus. But I keep it open for them to come back to me and let me know if they are running late or have a problem submitting an assignment. Giving them leeway and treating them as honest adults helps retain and motivate them to perform better.
Hi Toral,
What have you found to be the biggest motivator or your students? What gets them really excited about being in your class and learning new content and skills?
Gary
Understanding the needs of your students is very important in retaining them. Students need to find personal meaning and value in what they are learning. Adult learners like to be active learners, they like to apply what they learn immediately. On the other hand young learners are passive learners.
Greeting students and knowing them by their names makes every class personal and they will look forward to coming to class.
Hi Karen,
Well said. There is a big difference between listening to a lecture and internalizing the content being delivered in the lecture. We need to make sure we know how much comprehension is occurring with our students so we can make changes if we need to.
Gary
After I told them that it takes conditioning on both our parts, mine to make it interesting and theirs to want to learn, we continued with our lesson.
I taught them the difference between hearing a lecture and comprehending it!
While I agree with you Richard, sometimes it takes a village to keep a student!
Whether it's student advisors, professors or others, sometimes it takes the staff of the university communicating so that a student is not lost.
The human factor is the key to retention. The simple fact of knowing student's names shows them that you care about them.
I would reword that a little...if a student fails to maximize their potential...I then have failed.
The human factor is incredibly important in the retention of our students. Humanizing the students also helps to show them that we see them as individuals and that we are invested in their success. If they can see that we value their success, it can create a desire to complete the course sucessfully.
Hi Steven,
You give a good example of when it is time to pull the plug on students that just don't care enough about their field or future to put forth the effort to be successful. If you know you have put forth the maximum effort in trying to be supportive and encouraging to students and they don't respond then they are responsible for their failure. Students do not have an entitlement to grades but they do have a responsibility to work hard and create a future for themselves.
Gary
