Attrition & your classroom
As an instructor, what do you find to be the most common reason students quit coming to class? What methods do you use to overcome this retention challenge?
Poor test scores seem to have a big influence on whether a student stays in class. I often will encourage a student that is performing poorly, and offer help as needed. If the helpequired is out of my capabilities, I try to get the student to the resources they need.
I think the most common reason students quit coming to class is due to boredom. If students are bored with the topic or are not being taught to their expectations, or not being challenged enough during class, they will decide their is no reason to bother showing up. As a student, i have experienced this many times myself.
For us in the SAFE program we find that the main reason is finacial stress. Moving across the country for school and unable to find a job because they are out of state puts a major finacial burden on the student. Seeing signs of this stress is important for the instructor to pick up on and spend sometime researching ways that the student can help themselves such as food banks, car pooling and sharing living quarters to reduce expenses has resolved many of the students issues that may have caused them to leave the program.
I find allot expected the school to be differnt. Also, find them to be unsure that this is the right step in there life. Found by talking with them, that it stems with them having problems making it, or finding there place.
Does your institution have any workshops or course work that helps students with financial literacy?
Is your financial planning department part of the solution for students who are worried about lack of finances? Do you have any workshops or discussions about money and how to manage it?
One of the most trying events in a students career is the lack of finances and where they feel that if they just go work elsewhere and forego their education until latter they will be ok. i try to encourage them to work with what they have and do a better job of applying themselves.
Diverse students will have diverse reasons for not coming to class. Their decision to not attend may result from feeling unimportant, unchallenged, or they may be loosing sight of their goal to become a technician. In the training it mentioned the calling-career-job-burden model which is good illustration. They may not get along with people in their class also.
I have seen the same trends inline with Robin's comments here. I think being aware of how their day was before they leave, (asking them if they understood the labs or the lecture), and in some cases even checking with them in the beginning, lunch and at the end.
I find this very true,many times we do not find out in time to try to save or help. It is hard to reconize some of them until it's too late
seems the data leans usually towards two area's, the student has lost the ability to overcome their challenges with being away from home and family, we have many resources available for these students to take advantage of however for the most that is a very hard situation to overcome in their own mind and experiences. Tthe other is just a plain lack of motivation and drive for their future and plans they originally came to school for in the first place, when it is recognized that this is happening I try to take the student back into their passion and dreams they had when they started, and how right they were in making that choice and how close they are getting to seeing their dreams materialize.
Family and Money are the things that i have seen.
You have to motivate the student and make them see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I will use myself as proof that if you ask for help and dont giveup the reward will make up for the problem and hardships.
There are so many reasons, health, life, commitments, priorities. In most cases it would be unknown.
As an instructor I make every attempt to connect with the students, and let them know I'm here for their support academically, and in any other way. If I can't help them, Then we can find someone who can. I try to read their body language, and then confront them privately on how things are going for them. Always continuing to encourage them, and remind them of what they are working towards. Sharing success stories and such.
Make sure the student is having fun in class. Student stop coming some thing is going on at home are at the job. you need to make the student part of the class saw the stdent will come back to class.
We have had several students who were unhappy about the location of the jobs after graduation. I try to counsel them to expand their horizons, research other areas carefully and accept positions for the 1-2 years necessary to fullfil contract obligations.
These difficult economic times underscore the importance of understanding [and controlling] personal finances. Does your curriculum include any units on this subject?
Most of the reasons that students drop is not related to the school situation, but personal issues. Most of the students that I have talked with about dropping classes or or quitting school are generally related to finances. Not just in the school but also society that is the leading cause of life or life style changes. If you listen to the student, sometimes there may be ways to help the student. I have walked students down to student services and tried to find an answer to the student's problem. We have a lot of asset at our disposal if we use them
The key to a successful retention program is the ability to respond to student problems before they become a crisis. This requires good "intelligence" about what's happening in their world.
What can you do to improve communication with your students about personal issues?
Very often I never know why the student did not complete the course, sometimes it is due to finacial reason other times lack of transportation and a support base they had at home that they do not have at school.
