retention
Retention can be improved by implementing a well thought out plan before the class starts. Have clear goals and easily understood expectation. I also wonder if it would be beneficial to allow the students to make choices so they feel more in control with the course. For example, if it is an English class, let the students choose topics for the papers.
Lea-Anne, is this concept one that you can use in your classroom? Is there a limit to its application?
Hi Kathy, that is a wonderful idea of allowing the students to pick the topics, say for an English class. I believe in doing that it would allow the student to feel more empowered and that they have a say in their education. Even though they were the ones who decided to come back to school, it will give them a bit more feeling of self-worth. I know I would. Thanks for the post.
I like to ask a lot of open questions and start a conversation that will help the student understand and retain the information. I teach motorcycle chassis and suspension and i get them talking about the benefits that they will get from the learning nit only about the jobs that they will be doing in class but I give them my info from 16 years in the field.
With some inner city youths, they have very little trust with authority, and each day can be a struggle just to stay "alive". Alive might not mean a physical state, but more of a survival action. A lot come from broken homes where there really isn't much, if any, of some support structure, or any confidence in what they want to do, or what they are doing at any given time. I can recognize a lot of these concerns with "troubled" students, and will take the extra time to get to know them. I come from a broken home setting and a lot of students can identify with me and my background. I reinforce the mission they are undertaking by going to our school each day and try to make them realize that they can be something, and not succumb to any nay sayers that have said to them. "you have never done anything and you won't be any thing in life!" Some students have heard this all there life, and can be a challenge to overcome a lifetime of negativity. It is a work in progress daily!
Sounds like a tough crowd, David. Please share an example of how you win their trust and/or keep them excited.
I am an automotive technical school instructor, and my campus is on the east coast. We have a very challanging student body. They are mostly from New York, Philadelphia and some other urban areas. These are alot of entittled youth that the school systems, for the most part...not all, have been pushed through the educational system and then some how, expected to be successful in what ever they might do. We have to come up with alot of creative ways to earn their trust, engage them, keep them excited about their learning and to plan/prepare for their future. We provide a carreer for those who want it. We change 1 life at a time!
Intriguing, David. What type courses do you teach? Would this principle work for all other courses?
I too give studewnt so say in the course, esp with presentations, I will let them pick the disorder that they want to present, as long as it is part of the course we are in, and I have to give approval before they start working on it.
I agree with giving the students options and making them involved with the courses I teach. When they have a say in their education, they become more involved with their education. Of course, I help with their decisions by giving them a structured set of options which are course related. If I want to have them learn a certain concept, the options available to them are limited. But even with that being said, they actually do have a say (although limited) in what we do. It helps to keep them excited about their learning and this is good for retention
I agree with this approach.. Involving my student in some of the choices in areas that are flexible, has help to keep the engaged..
