Students who fail to show during Week 1
I always call students who fail to show during Week 1. Sometimes, they don't even realize that the new semester as started and they just needed a simple reminder!
I concur with this, with an addition: I think starting out terms midweek can confuse the students about official starts. We all tend to think a start would be at the start of the week.
Tracy,
Excellent! This certainly keeps them engaged and prepares them for the upcoming class.
Susan Backofen
That's a great point. I also like to reach out the week BEFORE the semester begins in order to remind them. The way my program runs they have a week off between semesters, so I do't usually have that problem once they are enrolled and have been in attendance. My newbies, however, have orientation sometimes 2 weeks before classes start. I like to give them a reminder before orientation and then again after orientation, but before classes.
I agree very much with this statement. Honestly, as I am reading some of the material in this module, I am astounded they are actually being suggested! Have events with food and assign them a "buddy" to show them the ropes? These are suggestions for adult learners? Wouldn't the "buddy" be new as well? How do you have a student show the ropes when they are learning them? While corporations do have events with food, they are generally celebrations, not a way to make sure I come to work. It is part of my responsibility to call them when they don't show up. I hate it and I disagree with it. I worry about the future when adults are so coddled when they are supposed to be working on THEIR future. I have been to college before too and never did someone call my house to see why I didn't come to class. These students don't know it is the first week of term? That's silly, of course they do, they signed up for the class, they came to orientation, that got a calendar.
When I have students that do not show up during the first week of class. I call them daily to see if there is something that I can assist with; like getting them any asignments that they have missed, or simply asking if everything is ok and that they were missed today in class.
Any students absent within the first week are contacted via land line, cellphone email or regular mail. We attempt contact at the first absence. Most times the reason for the absence is simple and the contact with the student 'kick starts" them.
That is in issue at our Institution each term. Students do not realize the start date so we have to call and remind them. We make alot of phone calls the first week between both admissions and education. During the term breaks, the students seem to reconsider their decision about being a student. We always lose students during the breaks, its ashame but there are many reasons as to why. I personally always do my best to remind them as to why they started in the first place and encourage them to continue on and become a graduate.
Talk to students when do show and let them know that you are concerned about information they missed ,also how it might affect their education.
Hi Thomas,
If I call a student that misses the first week is just because I was directed to so by management. Honestly I believe that the student that don’t know that the new semester started after am entire week don’t care about his/her career and do not deserve my time. We are dealing with adults, not high school students.
Yes there are some bounds these days that one must take care not to cross, even if it is with good will and looking out for the student. One can still become involved in an unwanted issue.
I'm not sure I would call a student in my position as a teacher because of there privacy but if I saw them in the hall or at student service I would talk to them and ecourage them
