Student Retention
As an instructor it is our resposibility to make students feel as comotable as possible with the course objectives and have our teaching styles co-inside with thier learning styles. Doing this will greatly improve the way the approach different projects through out their education process.
Dale,
Wow! Certainly sounds like you have had a challenging time in your class. It is an opportunity to pull them together and provide them with a lesson on perserverance as well as pulling together.
Susan Backofen
Yes, I had a couple students leave me class this last round and it was very disheartening for the other students as they both had a strong presence in the classroom. One was initially accepted into the program and then told he couldn't stay because of a conviction, and the other was told by administration that her loan debt was too high and she should probably withdraw. I was not happy that these students where placed in my class and then pulled out. The mood in the room was only beinging to recover from the loss of these students when a tragedy occurred outside our school involving one of the students in my room. It hasn't gone well, but I try to show students a path through adversity by perserving, no matter what. As I tell my children, you never give up, you might decide you are not interested, but you never give up.
Michael--
Good for you! Often, we don't give it much thought to intentionally teach to other learning styles. This is a real skill. I am sure your students appreciate it and it helps them to master the material.
Susan
Different learning styles: My learning style is visual and I tend to teach and describe things as if I were painting an image. I realize many students are not visual by nature so I make a conscious effort to deliver in different methods. Sometimes this is a struggle.
In my opinion, doing things to keep their interest going while their in school is very important to retention. I like to reassure students that they have made a good choice. Giving a 'what's in it for you" or talking about success’s of graduated students once in a while works very well for me.
Good point as students look around and see their peers missing how do you handle it?
Right now I ask the class if somone knows what happen to ?? mising student and most of the time someone will say he/she is sick or car problems etc...
Or the class will ask me and I will say student is sick or e-mailed me about the absence?
But Im not sure this is correct
I agree with you that taking the time on the first day of class to tell the studnets how the class fits into their career goals is great. The problem is many students still do not understand why some classes are needed. An example would be for a business major to take an accounting class.
Yes - when the instructors convey the importance of the course to the students' career goals, they make a bigger effort to complete the course.
Carl
As a Student Services Manager it is also important to understand the diverse student population and understanding that each student has there own frame of reference to making decisions, learning, and prioritizing.
Clive--
Great point. Retention in the classroom is a big factor. I have been in clases where by week 3 nearly half the students are gone. That makes everyone else wonder, as you point out.
Susan
Student retention not only affects the individual departments, but also the immediate classes.When student in a class sees that a fellow student drop a class it cause them to wonder why.
As both an instructor and a faculty mentor, I attempt to illustrate and convey that student success and retention require significant effort on both sides of the equation. I don't want my students, or faculty peers who I might be coaching or mentoring, to think that they are the only ones having to do the work. Therefore, I consider it my responsibility to approach my duties with labor, displayed preparedness, motivation, enthusiasm, and projecting a positive image that I hope they will be motivated to try and emulate. If I am taking the time to be concerned about their well being, I hope they will then want to be willing to give enough time and energy on their own behalf.
It's crucial that we can adjust our teaching styles to accomidate the different learning styles. This the only way we can provide a full learning experience.
Thomas--
How refreshing to hear you speak of being sensitive to different learning styles. This is something that many people aren't as aware of as we probably should be. We tend to teach the way we learn. Sounds like you have a great philosophy in the classroom.
Susan
