Get Your Students Hired
I do a midpoint advising with my students regardless of their grade. I encourage all of my students to always ask questions and to take advantage of tutoring available.
Hi LE,
I concur! Listening is key! We as educators must learn how to listen without interrupting. Sometimes people just simply want to be heard.
Patricia Scales
In a world where we all want to be unique individuals the adviser hears the same issues so many times that they are often tempted to jump to the solution before the student has completed their tale. One key to successful advising that I have discovered is to let them complete the tale and give them the courtesy of listening and asking questions. If an adult does not feel that you have heard and understood them, they are very unlikely to accept your recommended solution.
Hi Joseph,
Listening is key! Listen more and talk less. You can learn so much more by listening. Sometimes our students just need to be heard.
Patricia Scales
Student advising is as diverse as the students themselves and their experiences. They are a product of their environment and desires. The way to reaching them is to listen first so you can understand the best way to guide them. I liken this to teaching students the proper way to diagnose an electrical concern with a customer’s vehicle. You need to verify the concern and gather background information in order to best assess and determine the direction for the repair. Just as with the varied styles of learning one approach does not fit all, you need to be intuitive, empathetic, and firm all at same time. Many of the students have not had role models who gave them the proper tools to make decisions which can ultimately affect the course of not only their education but life’s path. So we end up part counselor, mentor, guide, but most importantly a listener....Two ears one mouth....need I say more.
Hi Rejandra,
Nicely stated! I can tell you genuinely care about your students. I love your outlook. Conintue to always be there for your students. Your students will work hard not to disappoint you simply because they know that you care.
Patricia Scales
Hi Richard,
Being up front, open, and honest with your students is the best approach. When things are made clear to students they tend not to fuss as much/bad.
Patricia Scales
My experience has been by laying out clear expectations regarding policies and procedures advisements don't come as a surprise to the students. I find that when student understand why an advisement is necessary they are much less adversarial in their reaction to it. I take time to talk to the student. I explain the violation and the expectation for future events. Even when the student may not agree with the advisement they understand why it is necessary and as a result seldom protest the advisement.
Hi Theodore,
It sounds like you all are such a close-knit group. I can tell that you geniunely care about your students, and you want to see them do well. When a relationship has been established with students, they will do everything in their power not to disappoint you. Continue to graduate students and let them know you are truly there for them.
Patricia Scales
Hi David,
Listening is crucial. We need to fully listen to our students without interruptions.
Patricia Scales
Hi Ronald,
Students feel more responsible when they are allowed to take owership of their situation. We have to help them learn how to be great problem solvers.
Patricia Scales
We have a very "small" school, with a small student population, a small staff of instructors, and a small administrative staff. This all leads to a very "family-type" feeling among ALL involved. Our students attend full-time only, and that converts to 40 clock-hours/week, which pretty much means that we are all here all the time. I even have occasionally had students request to come in on the weekend to get caught up with things if they are behind, and I go along with that if I have to be here anyway. When a student is missing for a couple of days, their fellow students will ask "What's wrong with so-and-so?" with genuine concern. Naturally we don't discuss particulars with students more than to assure them that their fellow is "okay", but there have been occasions when the students know more than the staff about their fellows and will fill us in to let US know that so-and-so is "ok"!
It all boils down to advising, getting to "know" the students and their personal situations, and letting them know that we, as instructors and staff, understand and empathize with those situations. As an instructor, I, personally, also get involved with financial aid, splitting my time almost 50/50 between the office and the lab, and the students often will come to me for information and advice, and I fully understand how important this information is to each of them. Our students range in age from 18 to 65, but each and every one of them has the same goal, and they all seem to have similar, although varying, problems and concerns, regardless of age, or background.
They are given my expectations for their class as a whole, as-well-as individual growth. I am a task master and will not leave you alone until you have surpassed my minimum standard of achievement in my class/lab. This allows a reputation to build prior to their entering the class. You will learn and you will have fun or else. Once in a while, I get a student that bucks the system. It should be expected, and encouraged to a point - as long as it does not cause other class members to have their education impeded. I have tried altering the student’s tasks, the order in which they are performed, having discussions of their personal interests and in general get to know the student prior to coming down with Thor’s hammer…, either grade wise or having to fall back on disciplinary measures. They know I’ve got their back (their 6).
Specifically, with adult education (be it young adult or old) you have to extend a helping hand today to retain students moral, focus and attendance. Today’s economy has hit all areas of our society. The added stresses are showing up and boiling over daily. We have to be mindful that the disruptive student may be acting out or not participating due to outside influencers. Mindful, is the word for those trying to reach todays adult student. They know that I am mindful of their goals, present living status and their sacrifices made for a higher education.
Our lack of caring society has a lot of cracks the difficult student can fall through - don’t let them fall through the cracks.
I find when advising students to do this one on one and listen to thier side of the story to help them with the solution that will fit them. In stead of coming up with a solution for them let them take ownership of the solution.
Successful student advising is achieved by listening what the student wants to do. Once you have made sure you understand the student's goals you may then assist the student on how they can reach those goals. Active listening skills are very important.
Hi James,
The truth is the best approach. I have learned over the years do not sugar coat anything, tell students exactly the way it is.
Patricia Scales
This is great advice. Adult learners want to be told the truth as they have been through a lot more than their teenage counterparts. You need to level with the stdudent and discuss what you can and cannot do in advisement and course selection.
Hi James,
I like the components that you use to advise your students. You cover all bases, and your students should quickly determine that you genuinely care about them.
Patricia Scales
Hi Karen,
I understand! You need to find that balance. I treat my students like my blood children to gain balance.
Patricia Scales
Hi Ashlee,
It is fine to caudle, but you must shoot straight with them and let them stand on their own.
Patricia Scales