Instructors can seek advice from their colleagues, consult the professional literature, an also cultivate a continued awareness of their own attitudes and behaviors and what impact they might have on students' participation and attendance. After gaining a little experience as instructor, I can quickly see when my students are engaged, versus when they might be frustrated or confused. By continually monitoring the situation, making adjustments, students will become more involved in the class. I believe this is one important method that promotes higher retention.
Instructors can become aware of different retention strategies to use in their classroom through peer observation/evaluation, both observing or evaluating and by asking for observation or evaluation. Also through best practice meetings.
Hi Jared,
These are great points about student retention. They have to become engaged in the learning process and have a sense of ownership in what is going on. This is what ROI is all about for students.
The open dialog strategy is one that pays off in many ways. Students appreciate that they are being listened to and that their opinions are valued. This goes a long way in establishing rapport with students and helped them to be forward focused in their learning.
Gary
First of all one must understand the needs of the individuals in a given class. Students may have financial difficulty, personal problems at home, work related conflict, or other matters that provide resistance to them getting to class, and thereby possibly droppping out of class. I believe that as an instructor, we need to be observant of the signs of trouble, and proactively act on issues, in attempt to help students be successful in their educational endeavours.
Gary:
My thoughts are that retention is best achieved when the class is something the students look forward to. This requires them to enjoy my methods of instruction, but more importantly requires that they form their own community as a class. If they develop relationships with each other, I think they are less likely to miss class, put in poor effort, and ultimately drop out of the class or school.
I believe an open dialog with my students about what they like about the class and what I might improve is important.
Knowing your student and their obstacles in advance will definetely help retention. Communication is the key if you speak to them on problem solving in advance than when the retention situation occurrs they know how to handle the problem or will come to you for help in advance.
How can instructors become aware of effective retention strategies for use in their classes?
At the career college I work at we have daily retention meetings to discuss the status of each student and how we can all help with daily retention
Hi Angela,
Thanks for sharing this student management strategy. This gives a number of opportunities for students to keep moving forward in their learning while coping with life issues.
Gary
I allow students to feel like they have a say in their class and what happens during their time here. For example, I will give them two options for when they want an exam and discuss what I see as the pros/cons of having it on the each of the days I offered. Then I leave the room for 2-5 minutes (just standing outside the door so I can still watch the activity but not necessarily hear completely), and allow them to have a healthy discussion as a class. Many times, the students may have something going on in their lives that they aren't comfortable sharing with me at the current time, but are okay sharing it with classmates. I then return to the room, and allow them to share their thoughts and give a decision that they have come to as a class. It not only allows them to feel like they have control over their learning, but teachings them effective communication, teamwork, and problem solving skills.
I have found that having students take a "learning style" test may be helpful in creating lesson plans.
Hi Juanita,
The personal touch is so important in teaching. What are some strategies you use to find out some additional information about your students?
Gary
Make it a little more personable ask questions and tell them some things about yourself, ask them if thier is something they want to know about you.
Do some thing to break the ice and let them know that your as human as they are.
Yes i try to every day ask student how thier day has been so far and get a feeling of personalization. If some thing is pending not only professionally but personally, like if i know that they were out ill ask if every thing is ok and if thier are any things you can do to help them get back on track. or may be they were out because of an illnes in family of some other thig that may take away from them learning ask is thier some thing or some way i can help or get them help, making it more personable and genuine.Showing that i care about them not only as a student, but as a real person.
Hi Rhonda,
This is a good balanced approached to meeting student learning needs while keeping them engaged throughout the course. The bringing in of life experiences helps the students to see life applications as well as gets them ready for the real world they are soon going to be entering.
Gary
Students are the best source regarding what works in the classroom. I like to periodically ask them, particularly asking them if they have a better, more effective strategy or method of getting things done, especially the more static parts of class like lecture. I also like to give examples where I put myself in their place regarding learning tough topics or trying to remember a list of items. I also like humor, and I try to make this relevant to what their life experiences have been, or how they can use the information in their professional life.
Show interest in each student, keep your class interesting, and give positive feedback often
Louis,
Great job on your post, you wrote something that really stuck with me. You said you ask for student evaluation in the discussion board about improvements. I think you are very brave. I can agree with asking for improvements about the course and even as an instructor. I know there are times that I want to ask students on ways to improve and there are some classes I feel we never got off on the right foot. These classes are usually ones that I notice the class are not aware of school policies and the appropriate way to submit their assignments. Are you ever hesitant? I know I am doing the best that I can do and follow school policies to keep my job, but sometimes students are not as receptive?
Thanks,
Nick
Good job on your post, Cheryl. I agree with your point about emailing students. I have tried in the past to email all students a motivational email on their grade every week. I have even had a class before where I only had one student and I emailed that student three to five times a week and they still failed to pass the course. So I think it brings up an interesting concept. Obviously, other learners are important to the success of a student and interacting with peers promotes a learners success. I can email them daily and if they don't feel like they are a part of the course they may not perform to the level if they knew prior to enrolling they would be participating in more of a directive study program. I think learners need each other as a backboard to discuss terms without feeling their teacher will put them in place. So I agree emailing students is a great way to promote learning, but sometimes the motivation also has to come from the learner and their expectations of the course.
Thanks,
Nick
Dr. Meers,
Hello, I think in order to have effective learning in the course you have to apply the material to the learners life. I am very lucky that I teach economics so many people are concerned with the current succes of our economy. I am lucky because I have a wide variety of sources and material to help learners apply the material to their current life. I know with retention that I have to make the material relevant to a student's life. I also find to have high retention you need to be positive and offer feedback to students that they can use to improve on their material and excel in the course.
Being aware of individual student backgrounds
