At Orientation the entire staff is on campus, we have refreshments and interact with the new students. We then have a presentation that introduces the management team and the faculty. Then the students go to different areas of the school to meet with financial aid, career services and procurement departments. We usually have a demonstration also going on to entertain them. I believe that this breaks the ice with them and the staff. It also gets them excited for the first day.
Hello,
I think that when someone starts a new college, there is fear of not knowing who to go to for what. We ensure our students that they will have support and communication. Also, information is given out so that they are familiar with their resources. I believe that if students need to take time off and they do not know where to turn, they risk being on the withdrawal list.
All of our faculty attend orientation. Segments of it are split among faculty members with a strong host orientation. We have healthy food and water. We also tour the school with them during clinic so they have interaction with other students and clinic clients.
Alicia ,
Do you have any activities that would encourage discussion of potential barriers?
Susan Backofen
The faculty do not participate the orientation. It is just for the managers for other departments, especially the career services, to establish a close relationship between them and to answer all the misconception questions they have. All the new students in our college have to go through GS101 (General Education class) that mainly teaches them how to have self confidence in any situation. The faculty visit the new students at the GS101 class to introduce ourselves and the module we teach. This visit, basically, breaks the ice btween us.
Hello,
To address student fears. We ensure that a sufficient amount of staff and Faculty members are present to let students know that they are not alone and to explain the resources available to them. Office hours, videos, presentation are displayed to encourage students to communicate with us.
Student interaction games, picture taking, asking about current student product knowledge, hands on activities, demonstrations
Vicki,
Wonderful! Involving current students is an excellent strategy.
Susan Backofen
Kelvin,
It is wonderful taht you take time to introduce yourself and explain the activity in the class. I am sure that it makes the students feel much more excited to begin!
Susan Backofen
Kate,
Your strategy is excellent! Encouraging them to articulate their goals and then incorporating them in your teaching is a great way to engage them long term.
Susan Backofen
Stephanie,
I really like that you provide demonstrations...a great way to get them excited. Do you use any particular method for finding out their struggles?
Susan Backofen
During our Orientation we have current students introduce themselves to the new students and speak to their fears and anxieties about starting a new program. They talk about how they were able to overcome these fears and how much they enjoy what they are currently doing. It's great for new students to see students who've been in their shoes!
We do demonstrations of some of the "hands-on" learning they will eventually be doing while attending class here. For my department, we demo a blood draw and an injection. This gets them excited and talking to one another about it. It also prepares them for what's to come so when they do get to those classes they are not caught off gaurd by the needles.
Tours are given but I usually don't have much to do with the orientation due to my class schedule. I sometimes provide a bit of food. My part is usually seeing the student as they tour the campus. I introduce myself and let them know what my class is doing that day. I believe this eases a lot of the unknown in their heads and they can see themselves doing it. The Staff here is very helpful and welcoming. If we see a lost student we will round them up and assist in putting them in the right place or with the right person.
We do as well. We give the students a breakdown of how much time is involved in attending classes and also outside of class. This not only gives the students a realistic view of how the next several months are going to be spent but helps students with time management.
While I have not yet done an orientation at the school were I am presently (just started), I have had opportunities to take part and lead the process in other schools as an instructor.
It's important to have the students talk about where they are in their lives, what draws them to study Massage Therapy and what they look forward to doing as a MT in the future (spa? Dr's office?). This way, as I teach I can relate he material to their specifics and make it more personal for them.
By relating my professional experience and knowledge/specific areas of CE study, I can build rapport with them.
As time passes, and these fears surface, we will then have a foundation from which we can explore the reasons for the fear(s) and the ways in which they might be addressed.
We have an orientation open house before they start school. We give them another tour of the school to get to know the staff and allow them to start meeting some of their classmates. We try to find out about their struggles so we can find solutions. They also get to go around and see demos so that they can get an idea of what they will be learning and ask questions.
hector,
Great! It is wonderful that you have them handle the implements right away. I am sure that generates a lot of excitement.
Susan Backofen
Ron,
Excellent! I love that you address this head-on and also discuss your own experiences.
Susan Backofen
During our orientation process i have the student engage in a scissor boot camp so they can get a feel of the implements they will be utilizing in their services. then i have them read the history of barbering so the student will have an idea where they fit into the new generation of barbers.
