Great response Ida. You are an "Intelligent Heart"
I'd like to thank you Katheryn for your insightful comments. I agree, as Instructors we strive to make a connection and when we do should not be surprised when our students come to us with their problems.
We can show that we care simply by listening…we may not be able to provide a solution but can offer support, an empathetic ear and maybe even suggestions on how to view the situation objectively.
In our online classes we do not have the opportunity or advantage of face to face interaction with students so I believe it is critical that we work hard to ensure that our students feel that we care about them and their success. We demonstrate this care and concern through the manner that we communicate online with them.
Some traits that I think valuable to Model, Mentor and Monitor to students include:
-the inclusion of some level of personal information revealed to students in order to facilitate that connection that can be so important to retention. If we expect our students to share something we must be willing to do the same.
-a professional, yet “intelligent heart†focused demeanor in the classroom. It is important to model professional behavior but I believe we are challenged to do so while demonstrating care and concern for our students.
-a “success is possible†attitude.
Each employee needs to see themselves as a 3M... not just their job title. I believe we are in the mental health business along with everything else we do. I good Success Course in the student's first term is a good place to begin.
Joe
Absolutely Katheryn. This is the kind of modeling we like to see. I'm very impressed with your strong connection to student success.
I believe that one of the most valuable traits to apply the 3 M's for our students is in the area of problem solving. Students come in with problems at home; at work and at school, with no idea in how to approach or attack the issue and bring it to resolution, positive resolution. Something as simple as speaking with an instructor about a grade received that the student did not agree with can become an issue. By showing them how to effectively deal with a situation or problem will keep them from throwing in the towel each time life throws them a curve or things get difficult.
Repetition is the mother of learning. Reseach tells us that we need a lot of encouragement for something to sink in. As mentors we need to repeat warranted encouragement to individuals at least eight times for it to impress.
Joe
We train students for employment at the lower end of the healthcare spectrum. I would say that the most important areas in which our students need guidance is in being punctual, focused, and developing an awareness of how they fit into the larger work environment and the responsibility they are assuming for others' welfare. They need a great deal of encouragement to see themselves as a vital and essential part of the healthcare team.
Monitoring is the most difficult part of the 3Ms.
We must follow up and hold them accountable for the consequences with an Intellegent Heart!!!
ATTENTION=RETENTION!
Joe
The example from Florida, where each staff and faculty member paid extra attention to five students is very interesting, and a great idea! It seems to me that student retention requires quickly establishing a connection between the new student, his/her peers and the institution. There is a Modeling component with the students seeing (and feeling) the satisfaction from having someone showing interest in them, repeatedly. It certainly can lead to a Mentoring relationship with your group of 5 students. I think the area we struggle with most is with Monitoring. On the one hand we have been afraid that we will chase students way if we make their training too difficult, requiring too much from them, etc. But maybe by not doing that we are helping them to fail in the long run. Setting higher standards, providing the Modeling and Mentoring and then holding them accountable through proper Monitoring may in fact be in their best interest!
Thank you for your input Andrew.
I agree. Sometimes a student just needs to know that someone cares enough to pay attention to them. Encouragement and support can play an essential role in helping students succeed.
I believe that communicating with our students, as they do each other, in a light-hearted encouraging manner, is an integral part of the 3 M's. Approaching students with an “intelligent heart†and mind opens the door to continuous mentoring. They may need our help more times than others and giving them the feeling that the door knocks both ways will lead to their ultimate success.
Don,
You are right on! Your school is a training ground for the Workplace. Traits like Dependability, Honesty and Good Attitude are at the top of the list and need to be modeled by every employee.
Our programs at The Pacific Institute cover these areas in great detail.
Joe
I feel that the traits that we need to model, mentor, and monitor need to go beyond the classroom. They should be traits that will also make them valuable employees such as being on time to class/work, having a positive attitude,loyality, fairness, ability to adapt to changes and deal with adversity. etc.
Don
This is an excellent response!
You are so right Chad. Accountability is a fairly easy concept to model. When teachers, staff and faculty are accountable, it is easy to see what is expected for the students.
From my experience(s) with students it is very important to model, mentor, and monitor accountability. When we are not accountable to our students and when we fail to mentor our students on their own accountability we create a perception that is easily mistaken for apathy or disorganization. When this perception occurs it is easy for students to exploit that and student success is diminished.
You are so right, modeling and mentoring RESPECT goes a long way. It is at the top of the list.
If you get a chance, log on to the free MaxKnowledge Best Practices Forum and see some of the threaded discussions others have posted.
I like what you had to say about respect Ronald. Showing respect to the students and each other is clearly a very important quality to Model.
With the diverse backgrounds that our students come from, we find that one of the areas most lacking is respect. While treating the student with respect to gain respect, we are also modeling a feeling of self-respect. Through the showing of respect, we are also showing attention (mentoring). The way in which we monitor the practice of respect is to check to see if their newly gained respect carries over to other staff and students.
