As an instructor, I have found that creating an atmosphere of respect and trust is one of the most important aspects of student retention. This starts with me learning student names, attending to students educational needs, and honestly just caring. It also means that I am knowledgeable about the subject matter and present that information with genuine enthuasium.
Renee Bipes
Hi Dwight,
Right you are about needing to set the students at ease and get them settled into the course. The more information you can share with them the more it reduces their frustration and gets them focused on the upcoming course.
Gary
By following up when students stop attending
By providing positive reinforcement and individual attention
By treating the students with respect and compassion.
Instructors can have a weekly "Conference Call", especially for the first 3 weeks of the course. I have found that a few up-front conversationns with the student (where I review the Syllabus and the assignments and my grading method) goes a long way to alleviate student fears and concerns about the course. This puts the student at ease and removes the "unknown" and they will be more inclined to focus their energies on performing well and therefore will lead to increased retention.
Dwight
by watching and asking questions of the students. greeting them at the the door
I have found that by talking with fellow instructors I learn about many different stratagies to improve retention. Each instructor has their own personality and techniques for instructing their class. I try to talk to as many instructors as I can and extract a little bit from each person that I think will help me be a better instructor. Things that work for one instructor may not work for another instructor. Use techniques that are comfortable for you, don't try to be something you are not. These things will help you increase retention in your class.
One way to become aware of effective retention strategies is to take courses like this, or to attend in-service trainings provided by my school.
In terms of applying those strategies, I get such a variety of students, with different backgrounds and levels of preparedness, that I need to have a few different strategies.
First, I need to make them feel welcome and respected. Often, students who are unsure of their abilities will contact me and express their concerns. That is a good time to try to reassure them and indicate that I will work with them toward success in the course.
Second, once I have read and graded the first assignment, I can identify those students that may be at risk. I will recommend that they work on their math skills, writing skills and so on, to improve their overall performance. If students fall behind on their assignments, I do contact them to remind them that they have outstanding assignments.
I like to break up my units into parts. During the following class periods I will quiz them at the beginning of class on the information that we discussed during the previous class period. We grade and review the information in class. I have also asked my students to take the last 5 minutes of class and write down at least 5 specific pieces of information that the learned and retained from the class period and they can also write down anything that is still confusing to them. This way you can catch anything that you may need to review in class the next class period. You can also email students individually on something that they are struggling with.
Hi Mark,
Good plan plus you can make any needed adjustments while the course is being offered. This shows the students that you really value their input.
Gary
It is easy to use test scores, lab scores, and pass/fail numbers to judge your effectiveness but that information comes too late for our 3 week courses. I like to take some time every couple days and talk to my students about how it’s been going. I tell them that I want honest, constructive, and respectful feedback in order to help me help them. This gives me insight into my effectiveness and lets my students know that I do care about their education process.
I find that if i treat my students with respect,compassion and fairness give them the education they came for there are no retention problems.
Hi Ronald,
Good program. I will be interested in how this program works out for your students. You may have to contact them more often than 3 weeks if they are starting to having issues in school.
Gary
In our school we have the instructors take on courses which helps in their development and inturn this added knowlege gets passed onto the student.
Some of the classes help instructors understand different types and age groups of students.
Understanding the various groups help the instructors with the retention process.
Instructors review the classes that they take and respond to our corporation if the classes are a benefit or if the corportation should look at other means for the education. Listening to the instructors helps the corpoation and inturn the retention. Communication is vital to retention issues from all avenues of retention.
Instructors can become aware of effective instructional strategies by getting to know their students, and asking the for feedback.
Instructors need to be willing to change their their teaching style once it is determined that another style may be more effective for the group.
The best way to find out is to go to the source, ask the students. As I have been teaching a few students for a few classes in a row they are more familiar with me and me with them. They feel more comfortable to make suggestions about things they like or don't like so I can work to incorporate those in my lectures/activities, etc. Not being afraid to ask them has made a significant difference in how we all interact.
Here at out school we are using a program to help with retention, it is a mentoring program that will help track students at risk. I am assigned students for my shift, but not in my class’s I meet with them or make contact every 3 weeks to see how every thing is going ,this shows the student that an Instructor is available and cares . Hopefully this will make a difference in there life, and keep them in school.
Our Deans may provide helpful information and suggestions as to how to improve retention. Every inservice session we attend may also provide useful ideas on how to improve our teaching and make our classes exciting, motivating, and meaningful for our students.
By treating a student with respect and admiration is the basis for understanding between student and instructor. Encouragement is often the center of student growth.
Of lot of my class consists of group discussion; it is usually easy to tell how easy it will be to retain them based on their willingness to participate.
