Student Retention
One of the way to help students who take longer to grasp the subject/content is to team them up with student leaders that have been detected among the class students. They become mentor and it creates a link for the students that have some difficulty to not only refer to the instructor but also have the opportunity to search help among the student leader/mentor.
"Has to help" is the key phrase in your question. The successful mentor programs that I'm familiar with are voluntary - some even paid - with the help coming from screened, qualified students. Frequently, they are trained in coaching methods.
An alternative is a simple buddy system. Here classmates are paired - frequently for a specific project only. This can be effective in the short term to help a student master a concept by working with a more advanced student.
I like this thought and we do use student tutors that help. My question to this is it fair that a student has to help another peer if they are trying to gain their education? We also know that peer to peer training is a very effective tool and can deliver great results into retention.
I agree! I have class buddies!!!
I agree ,We have a mentoring program that,the instructors pick the Mentor from their class. They have 4.0 grades and good attendence record. We give them a different color hat so they are recognized by their peers. We assign them a mentee usually from a previous mod. they stay with them and only them, so they are not overwelmed. It has worked wonders not only for retention but also student grade average.
Students in our training centers are advised that there are three ways to get help with difficult subjects. One is to bring up classroom related questions or problems to their instructor. The instructor will then spend some one on one time with the student to review the subject in a way that make more sense to that particular student. The second one is to go to a tutoring session and get help from a tutoring instructor.The third one is to match up the student with a volunteer upper class student/mentor who is able to work with the student in their own schedule and setting.
Once the student has a clear understanding of the subject he/she will feel better and want to come to school so he/she can learn more.
Do you think a student leader/mentor needs training so he/she can be an effective mentor?
This method has an additional benefit of building the confidence of the student leader who will then become an advocate for success among his fellow students further reinforcing the idea that their endeavors are worthwhile.
