Even though students are overwhelmed with information, the information that provides the best information is always from your soon-to-be-peers and from the students who have gained from the program and are in the industry already.
Kim--
This sounds like a truly excellent format. I bet you receive great feedback. I especially like utilizing your alumni.
Susan
Everybody has a fear the first time they do or try something new. They're not sure what to expect. This is the same thing for new students. We as instructors need to take this into consideration.
Lori--
Having the academic support services is important, especially for those who are struggling. It is important to also encourage your stronger students to utilize that resource as appropriate or needed. We all need help from time to time.
Susan
We currently have many of the ideas mentioned in Module 1:
Students are taken into the lab for an activity with either the instructor, dean, or department chair.
Students are then brought up to Career Services where our Alumni are there to offer their experiences as a student and where they are now. As well as having our Externship Coordinator there to provide great information.
Students move to our Resource Center where they see the computer lab and library as well as meet with Current Students for a Q&A. This seems to ease the fear the most because they hear from a peer perspective what to expect and bring to the first day of class.
Students are also given a brief list of Student Services contacts as well as information for our Resource Center such as checking out books to tutoring.
Support from previous students, staff and faculty support. Tutoring and resources that are available in case students are having an difficulties.
The learning resource center provides tutoring in most subjects for our students. Student services also assists in the tutoring process. Our academic department mandates agreements who fall below 2.0 GPA are assign to tutoring.
I would agree, making the classroom a comfortable environment is better for the learning enviroment
Janet--
Excellent advice. You are correct in that some people seem to 'borrow trouble' more than others.
Susan
Those feelings of inadequacy that we all seem to share, but always forget we do when we are in the middle of them, get addressed in so many ways, and sometimes not at all. Someone once said to me that there are people "who live more difficult lives than others".
As I face each day I wonder how am I going to interact with people and help them to the next patch of ground. My conversations are tailored to the persons needs and goals. As soon as I find out what those are I then help them look at the fears. It's really a case of one person in the room is calm and collected and saying, "Everything is manageable." I quell fears simply by being the voice of reason.
tell them no lies and give them facts
Richard--
That is an important point. It is a natual thing to compare ourselves with others (students or employees), but it is important that we all focus on doing in our personal best.
Susan
Isaac--
A round table is an excellent way to have a more relaxed atmosphere.
Susan
I like to tell my students that I have sat in their seat. I was a student of the very school I now teach at. I continue to tell of the fears I had as a student in class and how I got over them. I like to spend about 20 to 30 min. talking about all kinds of common interests, socializing a little, letting the class get involved in an open conversation/question/answer activity. I then continue with my intentions for them in this course.
One of the items I refer to is; do not compare yourself with other students. We do not know what life experiences some body may bring with them. Everybody has their own knowledge we can share with each other.
I do a round table meeting after production class every day. This opens up the ability to ask questions that may or may not be pressing. But to be honest, I dont do much to address student fears. Perhaps I should look at that more.
George--
Your observation and understanding of your role as a facilitator is an excellent one. We should assist students on their educational journeys. Each one progresses at a different rate.
Your willingness to be open and sychronous in your communication is excellent.
Susan
Cecelia, I went through an orientation at a university where was my daughter was going which was two days long. The activities they had for the students and parents were incredible. The students stayed in dorms and ate at the dining facility (with parents) and all were shown around the campus and introduced to “key players.” (Parents and students were in different groups.) My daughter was already excited to go but was ecstatic by the end of the orientation. Key in the success of the program was the Alumni Association which still contacts me about key events, care packages during exams and other events.
Start by having hands on within a couple of hours class time.
With the syllabus and other materials introducing the student to the class in a broad way, I have a set of expectations that I post (online) for the student. It is available as soon as they can access the classroom which is three days before the actual class begins. A roadmap of where we are going with the course is also provided and I encourage the student to read all of the assignments to see how they accomplish the course objectives. All in all, they know what they have signed up for. I am a breed of instructor that likes for the student to have open as well as instantaneous communications with me since as well as an instructor I am a facilitator, To that end that can attend one of my weekly three office sessions and/or two chat sessions. They are encouraged to instant message me whenever I am on line, have access to a voicemail bow, my work and my cell telephone numbers. ( I know that many instructors have some consternation concerning the last and maybe the last two methods but I have never had a problem as far as an abuse of any mode of contact. ) So, accessibility allays student fears.
