I believe that to improve retention every instructor needs to keep their students on the goal as to why they are here and the outcome of their new career. Every class session needs to be a positive reinforcement that they do this.
-engage graduates and learn about best practices and opportunities for improvement with-in the program.
-continue to work with student services to identify at-risk students
-evaluate current advising practices and brainstorm with colleagues about implementation and viability of program
1. Continue to build school culture.
2. Improve orientation to share school information more readily.
3. Develop an orientation FAQ handout.
Many of the policies and recommendations in course and forum are already implemented and practiced with real measurable results at my school. But, there is always room for improvement.
1. work with admissions to make clear that what they are selling is the coursework we are teaching.
2. Do more 'soft' events for students: potlucks, informal field trips, movie nights.
3. Work daily to clearly state the courses objectives and work with students to make sure those objectives meet the students expectations.
We have a 3-step course that is done in all courses. It is called, "Think, Build, Live and Success". They have three work books that each student gets to complete in the classroom along with the instructor. It teaches the student all they need to help them succeed in school and after they have finished their school. We have certain instructors that have been especially trained to teach this course. It has proven to be very successful.
1. Offer to my students an opportunity to work on cooking techniques they may need more help on in the hours before class time.
2. Encourage them to start a discussion/ study group.
3. Start a mentoring program with alumni where they let the current students know some "best practices" when it comes to quizzes, practicals, and finding an externship.
1: ,eet with students on a one on one bases and get to know them and their dream.
2- pick a person and call them sometime after class that day just to see how they are doing.
3- watch for people who have low grades and see if I can help them out more.
A student club sounds like a great idea. What's the procedure on your campus to start a club? Do you have a particular focus in mind? How will you manage membership?
1) My first step at improving retention will be to set up a students mentoring new students program
2) I will start-up a new student club to help retention.
3)At the begining of every new term I am going to take time to talk with each student individually to get to know them and what their obsticals might be to their success.
I will meet with more students
I will ask students how their experiece is going
I will find out if we can help their experience
Gloria january 28 2010 I'am going to be a better listner,give the student more incouraging words,be more helpful to their needs.
1. Try to reach out and tap into inner student needs. Many of our students have a wide range of comprehension and understanding.
2. Take a mini poll about a third of the way through the class and ask the students, Please write down 1 idea that would make this a better class to learn.
3. Try to get admissions reps and others in the administration to join the retention "fold."
How do you train faculty for peer training? Do you ever encounter personal conflicts or vendettas in this process?
That's being proactive!!! What topics did you cover in the initial sessions? How were they received? Do you have any activities planned for the in-service program? Please let me know via email how if went.
I also have peer observations as well as my own observations..helps my teachers not only get my perspective , but those of their peers
Tutor or get tutoring for the student, Have one-on-one discussions, and have other instructors visit the class to give them a different prospective.
I already had a staff overview with three 1 hour sessions about retention 2 weeks ago. On the 9th of January I am holding an inservice for all of my staff. This will be a more in depth inservice about retention, the role that the teacher plays, inovative ideas will be brought to the table for them to utilize. I also have been tracking attendance daily, calling students myself, having meetings with them.
- Meet weekly with my department supervisor to discuss any student issues and address them as soon as possible.
- Improve on my daily lessons and make them as interactive as possible. Engaging
-Have a weekly Q & A session to answer any questions that the students may have.
1. Become more familiar with the methods that already exist within the other areas of the University for improving retention -- I feel I do not know much about the university's retention best practices. This is mainly from being an instructor at an online college, I think -- I have not asked the questions I need to ask since I feel as if these departments are so separate and distant from me. I would like to know more about how the different areas of the university can best work together to improve retention. I feel, for example, that I do not even have a clear idea of the goals and purpose of the student advisors.
2. In my online classroom, I would like to send a more personalized welcome letter at the start of class that might address some of the feelings the students might experience through the five week course. I think they should know that these feelings (discouragement, for example) are normal. The letter would also more greatly stress my invitation to help and discuss any issues.
3. I would like to do a better job throughout the course of reaching out to students who are 'disappearing.' It is tempting to spend my time with the students who are visible and who are struggling through the course and actively asking for my assistance. Sometimes it feels like those students are the ones most deserving of my time and energy and that time spent trying to outreach students who are nonresponsive takes time away from those who are trying. I can see now how important it is to reach out to those who might just not know how to reach out. I do also understand that there is only so much a teacher can do and that responsibility ultimately rests on the student, but I think I could make a greater commitment.
1) Make myself more approachable to the students
2) Try to relate to their issues/personal struggles
3) Make the classroom experience pleasant, informational, educational, and respectful for the students; and, give them more attention.
