Monitoring
I really enjoyed mod 1. The topic hit home. I thought I was monitoring correctly until now. I left out the f/u with a call portion. And, so I immediately called a few of my students to follow up and they were pleasantly surprised. I will continue to monitor better. I wasn't aware that students really appreciate a call from their instructor. I will start calling students when they are mia from now on.
Thank you!!
Beth,
The tone of the outgoing phone call means everything. If faculty members are calling to show they care, the calls are valuable. If faculty members are calling because they "have to" in order to keep their jobs or to get a good review, the conversations and voice mails may have the opposite of the desired impact on students.
Jeffrey Schillinger
I think calling the student helps them feel like the people at the school care. I Have also noticed that if a student is absent and they call you to let you know whats going on and when you follow up with them when they get back to see how things are going they feel the compassion from you. With students in the past i have noticed this follow up can be very effictive at Retention.
This topic really impacted me too. In being a better monitor, I will remember to call students who have been absent from now on instead of relying on the students to contact the instructor. In the past I had felt that saving handouts and assignments to give to the absent student upon return was adequate but now I know the importance of the extra effort to reach out.
I will ask students which information they would like to review. I may also ask them what section of the class they would like to complete first when it does not interfere with learning or understanding information being taught.
Erin,
Mentoring opportunities occur when the student makes a choice. What are one or two things you do that draw students toward choosing you as a mentor?
Jeffrey Schillinger
I agree I think you should be mentor to your students as the feel special and that someone believes they can accomplish their goals.
Yonne,
The key the the success of the calls is the attitude of the caller. It sounds like you have the correct attitude - a helpful one.
Jeffrey Schillinger
I call my students each time they are absent just to say they are missed and we hope to see them in the next class time. So many of them will thank you for your concern. They even expect a call from you when they are out.
Mary,
Thanks for this post. A phone call delivered in a supportive manner can make a big difference.
Jeffrey Schillinger
