It is extremely important. Your students have to feel like you care about them and want the best for them. This keeps them coming back day after day.
Jason,
You last sentence is so true. It boils down to it being up to them because after all it is their future they are preparing for. You are doing all of the right things to enhance retention so keep up the good work and count the ones that do respond and complete their program as successes.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The human factor is very important. i think it is important to note though that the human factor alone will not create 100% retention. I thrive on my students being successful. When a student misses class, I email them during that class when students are doing independent work or during a break. I explain that I am concerned that they are alright, most importantly, and I let them know that I am available to help them make up any work that they missed. I also make accomodations based on the the reason for their absence such as extra credit, extra time, 1-on-1 instruction. Sadly, some students do not respond to the human factor and ultimately end up either dropping the class or failing. We cant reach 'em all!
Matthew,
Thank you for these comments related to student retention. They contain the foundation for student success. Knowing a person in authority in this case their instructor cares about them and their success goes a long way in engaging the students in the learning process.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe that one of our very real human needs it for connection. So, the human factor becomes of paramount importance in the learning environment. Students who have a sense of that connection with their instructors or other students are able to find that intrinsic motivation to overcome challenges, ask for help, see themselves as successful students and professionals. Engagement requires authentic connection, so I also believe that it is not enough to know the tools for embracing the human factor, but that it has to come from a place of truly wanting the best for your students and having "unconditional positive regard" (Carl Rogers) for them.
Rene,
Sounds like you have good rapport with your students. I tell my student something similar in that I tell them I want them to graduate and be successful so they can pay my Social Security when I retire. So I tell them their success is personal because I don't want Social Security to run out and I don't want to eat dog food when I retire. This always gets them going.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It's of nearly utmost importance. I joke with my classes and tell them "If you don't graduate I don't care because I still have a job...but I have bad news for you, I DO care, because you are people and I care about people." It's silly irony to get their attention, and help them understand that it IS important that they do well, because they will be successful in their field. I truly hate to see ANY of my students fail. I let them know I value them as human beings and future colleagues, and that has help me tremendously.
Karen,
Thank you for sharing this example of a student that is not connected. It is a sad situation but one hopefully we all can learn from. Keep up your effort because you might be able to establish a connection with the student and get him engaged. If you don't don't be too discourage. Even though we try we cannot reach them all. When I have such a situation I keep up my effort but also focus on my engaged students enjoy the feeling I get from their enthusiasm and learning.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I can relate to the many experiences that my peers have addressed in this thread. It is not easy to create such a deep rapport with each and every student that they feel comfortable telling you some of their darkest secrets and/or fears. We as adults do not always feel comfortable talking to a family member about such issues, and here we are hoping the students will open up to us. There is no easy answer; we just have to keep trying. The human factor I am currently struggling with is disconnection. I have a student that is disconnected from the class and me. I see him in class, outside, and the hallway and can barely get him to engage in a conversation, let alone the class or with his classmates. I have spoken with his other instructors and it is something that we are working on. It definitely worries me.
Adam,
This is a major part of student and teacher success. Having a connection with the instructor and knowing that he or she cares about each student in the class is so important. It increases engagement.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think the human factor is critical to student retention. If students are able to establish a meaningful connection with their instructors, they will stay engaged and feel compelled to complete their studies.
Thomas,
You make such a good point. Students need to feel that someone in authority (you) cares about them and their success. By knowing you care they become invested in the course and their future. This makes it a win win for everyone.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think that it is very important. Having a sense of belonging provides a motive for students to return to class and be an active participant. Being just a number ostracizes students.
Tom
Lindsey,
Great point for students to get. They need to understand the value of and impact that their social/human interaction with clients/customers has on their success. The word "service" needs to be defined and understood by each student because their ability to deliver good service will determine how successful they will be in their career.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe it's extremely important. It goes to the saying, "They don't care how much you know, till they know how much ou care". I teach a service industry and one thing we stress is taking care of clients and meeting their needs. So, as instructors, we must demonstrate this withing proper boundaries and example in our interactions.
Katherine,
Sad when you hear about such teachers. These experiences should make us educators dedicate ourselves not to be like some of the less than professional teachers we have had.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Unfortunately, I have had and my children have had some not very caring and fair teachers. The human factor is so important for students and the majority of teachers have this which has helped all of us enjoy school. Showing students you care about them, respect them and treat them fairly will give them the power to achieve your course's goals.
Josette,
This is a very important point to remember. Knowing about students in a general way in terms of their goals and what help they might need to be successful is one thing but knowing a lot of information about their personal lives is too much. I to limit myself to what they volunteer and I keep that information in the context of how I can apply the information to the class they are enrolled in and leave it there.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Although I certainly agreethat the instructor must know their students I sometimes feel this is taken too far. For example, there are two instructors with whom I work that know every detail of their students personal lives. In a medical work environment the student must have learned to let their personal issues at home and focus on the patients. So I limit my interactions with the students personal lives to what they volunteer.
Sonya,
This is a great way to demonstrate your support to and for such students. They see you believe in them and that you want to help them succeed if they will put forth the effort.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
